Former Senator Kyrsten Sinema accused of affair with married bodyguard in federal lawsuit
WASHINGTON, DC: Former US Senator Kyrsten Sinema is facing a civil lawsuit from the ex-wife of a former member of her security detail, who alleged that the senator had a romantic relationship with her husband that led to the breakdown of their marriage.
Heather Ammel is seeking at least $75,000 in damages, claiming Sinema knowingly pursued her husband while he was married.
The lawsuit, initially filed quietly in North Carolina, drew wider attention after it was transferred to federal court. Sinema and her attorney have not responded to requests for comment.
Lawsuit details alleged relationship between Kyrsten Sinema and security aide
According to the complaint, Matthew and Heather Ammel shared “a good and loving marriage” marked by “genuine love and affection” before Sinema allegedly intervened.
Heather Ammel claimed that Sinema pursued Matthew Ammel despite knowing that he was married, ultimately contributing to the end of their relationship.
The lawsuit stated that Matthew Ammel joined Sinema’s security detail after retiring from the US Army in 2022. As part of his role, he allegedly accompanied the then-senator on multiple trips, including to Napa Valley, Las Vegas, and Saudi Arabia.
In early 2024, Heather Ammel said that she discovered “romantic and lascivious” messages exchanged between her husband and Sinema via the encrypted Signal messaging app.
By the summer of that year, Matthew Ammel reportedly stopped wearing his wedding ring. The complaint further alleged that Sinema arranged for him to take on a role as a national security fellow in her Senate office while he continued working as a bodyguard for her campaign.
“Mr Ammel stated it was best for ‘public optics’ so it wouldn’t look like Defendant was putting her hands on a married man when they were out at concerts and various other public events,” the lawsuit alleged.
The filing claimed that the relationship continued from the fall of 2023 through the end of 2024, during which time the pair allegedly attended numerous concerts together, including performances by Green Day, Taylor Swift, and U2.
The lawsuit also alleged that Sinema paid for the psychedelic treatment for Ammel, who had struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and traumatic brain injuries stemming from his military service in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
According to the complaint, Sinema allegedly suggested that he bring MDMA on a work trip “so that she could guide him through a psychedelic experience.”
Kyrsten Sinema's post-senate background
Sinema served a single term as Arizona’s junior senator, first elected as a Democrat in 2018.
She later left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent, a move that drew national attention and strained relations with former allies. She declined to seek reelection in 2024, effectively ending her Senate career in January 2025.
After leaving Congress, Sinema joined the Washington-based legal and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells. Her lobbying work included advocacy related to data center development and research funding for a psychedelic stimulant, according to public disclosures.
