Kyrsten Sinema, a former Arizona senator, caused disagreement among Democrats while she was in the U.S. Senate. Now, she’s accused of causing problems in a marriage between a husband and wife.
The former senator is being sued by the ex-wife of her bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, who claims she had an affair with him while he was working as her bodyguard.
According to a lawsuit filed in North Carolina, this alleged relationship led to the breakup of a 14-year marriage. The lawsuit says Sinema, who is 49, sent many suggestive texts to Ammel, including pictures of herself in a towel, and even suggested he bring MDMA to a work trip so she could help him with a “psychedelic experience.”
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Heather Ammel, Matthew’s ex-wife, is suing Sinema for emotional harm, using a law in North Carolina that allows people to be held responsible for causing trouble in a marriage.
The lawsuit claims that around a year after Matthew joined Sinema’s security team, the head of the security team left and told Matthew that Sinema was having sexual relationships with other members of the security team.
Heather says Matthew struggled with mental health issues after his time in the U.S. Army and that Sinema used his vulnerability to get closer to him.
She says Sinema promised to help him deal with his problems. Heather later found many sexual messages between Matthew and Sinema, who is a well-known centrist Democrat, on the encrypted messaging app Signal.
Sinema announced in March 2024 that she would not run for re-election again.
The lawsuit also says Sinema paid for Matthew’s psychedelic treatments, took him to a wedding, and gave him many gifts, including international trips, a Taylor Swift concert, and a Theragun for massaging his back.
In June 2024, Sinema allegedly offered Matthew a job in her Senate office as a Defense and National Security fellow, making him her subordinate.
Heather says she confronted Sinema after seeing a message on Matthew’s phone that read: “I miss you. Putting my hand on your heart. I’ll see you soon.” Heather replied, “Are you having an affair with my husband? You took a married man away from his family.”
The lawsuit states that before Sinema’s actions, the couple had real love and affection for each other.
The Daily Beast has asked Sinema’s representatives for comments, but none have been provided. Matthew Ammel has not been reached for comment.
Matthew filed for divorce earlier this month, according to TheAssemblyNC.
During her time in the Senate, Sinema was seen as a centrist Democrat who often worked with Republicans rather than her own party. She was criticized by the left, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, who said on Stephen Colbert, “I will not miss Senator Sinema,” after she announced she would not run for re-election.
Sinema, who is now a political adviser at the D.C. law firm Hogan Lovells, said her decision not to seek re-election was due in part to her frustration with American politics.
She said, “Despite modernizing our infrastructure, ensuring clean water, delivering good jobs and safer communities, Americans still choose to retreat farther to their partisan corners.” She added that compromise had become a “dirty word.”
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