Former US Senator Kyrsten Sinema allegedly had a romantic relationship with a member of her security team, which his ex-wife says led to the breakdown of the man’s marriage. Heather Ammel is seeking at least $75,000 from Sinema in the lawsuit. According to the New York Times, she further accused her of seducing him.
Matthew and Heather Ammel had a “good and loving marriage” with “genuine love and affection” before Sinema got involved, Heather Ammel claims in her legal filing, alleging that Sinema pursued Matthew even though she knew he was married.
The suit says the Arizona lawmaker’s security chief hired Matthew Ammel after he retired from the military in 2022 and that he traveled with Sinema to places including Napa Valley, California; Las Vegas; and Saudi Arabia, according to the AP.
In early 2024, Ammel’s wife discovered “romantic and lascivious” messages he was exchanging with Sinema through the Signal messaging app. That summer, he stopped wearing his wedding ring and Sinema gave him a national security position in her Senate office while he continued to serve as a bodyguard for her campaign, the lawsuit alleges.
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The suit also alleges that Sinema paid for psychedelic treatment for Ammel, who was dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and traumatic brain injury related to his military service in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Sinema and her attorney did not respond to AP requests for comment.
The lawsuit was quietly filed late last year in Moore County, North Carolina, and attracted worldwide attention this week after it was transferred to federal court.
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Who is Kyrsten Sinema?
Kyrsten Lea Sinema, born July 12, 1976, is an American politician, lawyer, and former social worker who served as the United States Senator from Arizona from 2019 to 2025. Originally a member of the Democratic Party, she became an independent in December 2022.
Sinema’s parents separated during her childhood, after which her custodial mother remarried. Sinema later moved with her mother, stepfather and siblings to DeFuniak Springs, a small town in the Florida Panhandle.
In 2018, she won the Senate race to succeed outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake, defeating Republican candidate Martha McSally. As an independent, Sinema was one of four nonpartisan senators, along with Bernie Sanders, Angus King, and Joe Manchin, all of whom were on the Democratic caucus. It emerged as the decisive swing vote during the closely divided 117th and 118th Congresses.
Sinema announced that she would not seek re-election on March 5, 2024, and was later replaced by Democrat Ruben Gallego.
In January 2025, Sinema joined Coinbase’s Global Advisory Council, where she took on the role of advocating for the cryptocurrency sector and helping the company engage with US lawmakers.
Two months later, in March 2025, she became a senior advisor at the law and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells.
Sinema unsuccessfully lobbied the suburban Phoenix-area city council to approve the development of an AI data center in October 2025, revealing its alignment with the Trump administration’s approach to building AI infrastructure. Earlier that year, she founded the AI Infrastructure Coalition and assumed the role of its co-chair.
Key things
- The suit says the Arizona lawmaker’s security chief hired Matthew Ammel after he retired from the military in 2022.
- In early 2024, Ammel’s wife discovered “romantic and lascivious” messages he was exchanging with Sinema through the Signal messaging app.
