Sinema Deposition Details Affair with Married Bodyguard in NC Lawsuit
Former Senator Kyrsten Sinema admitted in a July 31 deposition to having multiple sexual encounters with her then-married security guard, Matthew Ammel, while serving in office. Heather Ammel, Matthew's ex-wife, is suing Sinema under North Carolina's alienation-of-affection statute, alleging the affair ended their 14-year marriage. Sinema's legal team has moved the case to federal court and is seeking dismissal, arguing the relationship occurred outside North Carolina and that the court lacks personal jurisdiction. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for August 19.
Key points
- Sinema testified that she first had sex with Matthew Ammel around Memorial Day 2024 at an Airbnb in Napa, California, while staying with friends and another security detail member.
- Subsequent encounters occurred in June in New York City during a wedding, in mid-July at her Washington, D.C., apartment, and in mid-August in Aspen, Colorado, during a fundraising trip.
- Sinema acknowledged knowing Ammel was married and had three children during these encounters, which continued into October 2024 at her Phoenix home.
- Heather Ammel discovered the affair when her husband returned home severely intoxicated and later described Sinema as 'insidious' in a text message.
- The Ammels separated on November 1, 2024, and their divorce was finalized in March 2026.
- Sinema's defense argues the federal court lacks personal jurisdiction because the relationship took place outside North Carolina, where the lawsuit was filed.
Background
This legal dispute arises from North Carolina's alienation-of-affection laws, which allow spouses to sue third parties for damages resulting from the breakdown of their marriage. The case follows Sinema's departure from the U.S. Senate at the beginning of 2026. Her legal team has contested the jurisdiction of the North Carolina court, attempting to move the proceedings to federal court to seek dismissal based on geographic and jurisdictional grounds.
Why it matters
The case highlights the continued legal viability of alienation-of-affection statutes in certain states and the potential for personal conduct to trigger civil litigation against public figures. It also raises questions about the jurisdictional limits of state courts in cases involving federal officials whose actions occurred in multiple jurisdictions.
What to watch
An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for August 19, where the court will likely rule on the motion to dismiss or the transfer of the case to federal jurisdiction. The outcome will determine whether the case proceeds to trial or is dismissed on procedural grounds.
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