Former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has provided sworn testimony acknowledging the initiation of a sexual relationship with Matthew Ammel, a married man who served as her bodyguard. This revelation comes from newly reported court documents connected to a civil lawsuit filed by Ammel's ex-wife, Heather Ammel, in North Carolina. The lawsuit alleges that Sinema played a role in the dissolution of the Ammels' 14-year marriage.
"We were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California. We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex." — Kyrsten Sinema, Former U.S. Senator
According to TMZ, Sinema discussed the relationship during a deposition as part of the ongoing legal dispute. She testified that her romantic involvement with Matthew Ammel began in May 2024, while they were both in California. "We were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California. We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex," Sinema stated during the deposition, as per court documents obtained by TMZ. She further testified that this encounter marked the first time the two had engaged in kissing or sexual activity.
The specific timing and location of the alleged start of the relationship are critical to the lawsuit, given North Carolina's unique marital interference laws, often referred to as "homewrecker" laws. These provisions permit civil claims against third parties accused of contributing to the breakdown of a marriage. Heather Ammel is seeking to hold Sinema liable under these statutes.
Sinema's legal team is contesting the lawsuit, arguing that North Carolina's jurisdiction does not extend to her, primarily because the alleged conduct central to the claim occurred outside the state, and she lacks sufficient ties to North Carolina. Public Radio East previously reported that court documents included intimate messages exchanged between Sinema and Ammel, detailing trips to various locations including Napa Valley and Saudi Arabia. Sinema's attorneys maintain that any relationship activity within North Carolina only commenced after Matthew and Heather Ammel had already separated, a distinction that could significantly influence the court's decision on jurisdiction and the applicability of state law.
The litigation has also expanded to include a dispute over private records. Steven Epstein, an attorney representing Sinema, reportedly issued a subpoena seeking records from Heather Ammel's therapist. The subpoena requested therapy session dates, notes, intake documents, invoices, and communications related to Ammel from 2024, according to the Phoenix New Times. Heather Ammel has opposed this request. Her attorney, Thomas Van Camp, initially asked Epstein to withdraw the subpoena before filing a motion to block it, Breitbart News reported. Van Camp argued that the requested information was "completely unrelated to the issue of Defendant’s contacts with North Carolina" and fell outside the authorized scope of discovery.
The underlying lawsuit has brought Sinema's private life into public scrutiny shortly after her departure from elected office. Sinema was initially elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 2018. In December 2022, she announced her departure from the Democratic Party to register as an independent, following years of policy clashes with her Democratic colleagues. In March 2024, Sinema declared she would not seek reelection and would conclude her Senate term at the beginning of 2025. The relationship described in her deposition allegedly began approximately two months after her announcement not to seek reelection.
Matthew and Heather Ammel had been married for 14 years prior to their separation, according to Public Radio East. The lawsuit does not dispute that Sinema and Matthew Ammel eventually became romantically involved; rather, the central legal question revolves around whether Sinema's alleged actions fall within the purview of North Carolina law. Sinema's deposition has now offered a firsthand account of when she states the physical relationship commenced, placing the initial encounter in Napa, California, and not within North Carolina. The case remains ongoing, and the allegations made by Heather Ammel have not yet led to a legal finding that Sinema is liable for the breakdown of the marriage.
