The former US Senator for Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema, is facing a sensational lawsuit that accuses her of having a damaging affair with her married bodyguard, leading to the collapse of his 14-year marriage.
Explosive Allegations in the Legal Filing
In legal documents filed in North Carolina, Heather Ammel, the wife of special forces veteran Matthew Ammel, alleges that Senator Sinema engaged in 'intentional and malicious interference' in her marriage. The suit claims the affair began shortly after Matthew Ammel, a father-of-three, was hired onto Sinema's security detail in 2022.
The complaint details that during frequent work trips across the United States and internationally—including to Saudi Arabia—Sinema would allegedly invite Ammel to her hotel room. Their travels were also punctuated by concerts for acts like U2 in Las Vegas, Green Day in Washington, and Taylor Swift in Miami.
According to the lawsuit, the bisexual former senator, who served from 2019 to 2025, made several provocative requests. She allegedly asked Ammel to bring the party drug MDMA on a 2023 trip so she could 'guide him through a psychedelic experience'. In messages cited in the suit, Sinema reportedly described missionary sex as 'Boring!' and, when Ammel joked about starting a 'f*** the troops' chant, she replied she would 'f*** the hot ones'.
A Marriage Under Strain and a Political Connection
The filing states that Sinema instructed Ammel to remove his wedding ring at public events to avoid the appearance of impropriety. She also allegedly sent him pictures of herself in a towel and purchased him a Theragun massager, requesting he bring it to her apartment.
The alleged relationship is said to have culminated in the separation of Matthew and Heather Ammel in late 2024. Heather Ammel claims she was left emotionally devastated and financially strained, forcing her to pursue divorce.
Intriguingly, the lawsuit notes a professional and advocacy link. Matthew Ammel, who suffers from PTSD and a traumatic brain injury, used psychedelic drugs as treatment. Sinema, both as a senator and later as a lobbyist, actively pushed for psychedelics like MDMA and Ibogaine to be accepted as PTSD therapies. In a 2023 interview, she cited Ammel's positive experience with Ibogaine in Mexico as an inspiration for her work.
Legal Recourse and Financial Details
Heather Ammel is suing for $25,000 (approximately £19,500) in damages under a unique North Carolina law that permits lawsuits for 'alienation of affection'. This statute allows a plaintiff to sue a third party for wrongful and malicious conduct that destroys a marriage.
Financial records reveal Matthew Ammel was paid over $90,000 for six months' work as a Defense and National Security Fellow in Sinema's office between June 2024 and January 2025. Prior to this official role, he was paid from Sinema's campaign and PAC funds, with his compensation appearing to increase sharply after she left office.
The Daily Mail has approached Kyrsten Sinema for comment on the allegations.
