Former U.S senator sued for having affair with bodyguard leading to wreckage of marriage

Saturday, January 17, 2026 - Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has been accused of being a homewrecker for her alleged affair with her bodyguard, a lawsuit filed by the bodyguard's ex-wife claims. 

The lawsuit filed in North Carolina by Heather Ammel accused the senator of engaging in “intentional and malicious interference” during her marriage to Matthew Ammel, a retired U.S. Army veteran who was hired to work as Sinema’s security detail in the Senate in April 2022. 

Matthew’s job included accompanying Sinema on trips to such destinations as Napa Valley, Calif., Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia, the suit claimed. 

The senator and her bodyguard allegedly attended several concerts together, including Green Day, Taylor Swift and U2. 

The suit said Heather had discovered in January 2024 that the two were exchanging “romantic and lascivious” messages over the Signal messaging app. 

One of the messages allegedly included a photo of Matthew “wrapped in a towel.” 

The two also allegedly exchanged messages about “having s£x missionary style with the lights on,” to which the suit claims Sinema replied, “Boring!” 

Sinema allegedly paid for psychedelic treatment for Matthew, who was struggling with post-traumatic stress, substance abuse and traumatic brain injuries linked to his past army deployments in Afghanistan and the Middle East. 

By summer, he stopped wearing his wedding ring, and Sinema offered him a salary position as a national security fellow in her Senate office while he continued to work for her campaign as a bodyguard, the lawsuit alleges. 

Around the same time, Heather discovered more alleged intimate messages being exchanged between the two. 

In October 2024, a message Sinema allegedly sent Matthew said, “I miss you. Putting my hand on your heart. I’ll see you soon.” 

Seeing the message, Heather replied, “Are you having an affair with my husband? You took a married man away from his family,” the lawsuit said. 

Following a work trip to Saudi Arabia in November 2024, Matthew moved out of the home he shared with Heather and the two separated.

The lawsuit was filed late last year in Moore County, North Carolina, and drew media attention after Sinema asked this week for the suit be moved from state court to federal court.

Heather’s lawsuit seeks $25,000 in damages under North Carolina’s alienation of affection statute, under which a third party can be sued if they intentionally break up a marriage.

Sinema left Congress after the 2024 election. The Democrat-turned-independent senator had announced her retirement in March 2024.