Former Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema faced a dramatic public disruption when several men heckled her during a keynote speech in Utah, claiming to be having affairs with her. The incident occurred just days after shocking legal documents alleged she had a lengthy affair with her married former bodyguard.
Chaos at Utah Economic Summit
The scene unfolded on Friday at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, where Sinema was speaking at the Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit alongside Governor Spencer Cox. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the event descended into mayhem when a man suddenly stood up and declared to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have a confession to make: I am actually having an affair with Krysten Sinema."
The audience was initially uncertain if the outburst was a planned skit. Utah Highway Patrol troopers swiftly escorted the man from the room, though he continued shouting. As the panel attempted to resume, a second man stood and began yelling nearly the same statement, leading to his removal as well.
Lurid Lawsuit Alleges Affair with Bodyguard
These public confessions came merely a day after the emergence of a sensational lawsuit filed by Heather Ammel, the wife of Sinema's former bodyguard, Matthew Ammel. The suit accuses the 49-year-old ex-senator, who was the first openly bisexual member of Congress, of "intentional and malicious interference" in the couple's 14-year marriage.
Heather Ammel, a 38-year-old mother of three, alleges the affair began shortly after her special forces veteran husband was hired onto Sinema's security team in 2022. The lawsuit paints a picture of an intimate and inappropriate relationship that extended across work trips, concerts, and international travel.
Key allegations from the legal filing include:
- Sinema frequently invited Matthew Ammel to her hotel room during work trips across the US and to destinations like Saudi Arabia.
- She allegedly asked him to bring the party drug MDMA (ecstasy) ahead of a 2023 trip so she could "guide him through a psychedelic experience."
- Their travels included attending concerts by U2 in Las Vegas, Green Day in Washington, DC, and Taylor Swift in Miami.
- Sinema purportedly told Ammel to remove his wedding ring to avoid appearances when they were out in public.
- The exchange of intimate messages, including one where Sinema described missionary sex as "Boring!" and another where she texted a photo of herself wrapped in a towel.
Heather is seeking $25,000 in damages under a unique North Carolina law that allows lawsuits for "alienation of affection." She claims the alleged affair culminated in the breakdown of her marriage in late 2024, leaving her emotionally devastated and financially strained.
'Cougar' Comment and Further Fallout
Adding to the surreal nature of the Utah event, Sinema had described herself as a "cougar" moments before the heckling began. She made the remark while discussing her alma mater, Brigham Young University, whose sports teams are called the Cougars. The term also colloquially refers to an older woman in a relationship with a younger man. "I get called that a lot," Sinema said. Matthew Ammel is 39, ten years her junior.
The scandal has also cast a spotlight on Ammel's personal struggles. The ex-soldier suffers from PTSD and a traumatic brain injury and has used psychedelic drugs to manage his symptoms. Sinema has been an active lobbyist for the therapeutic use of psychedelics like MDMA and Ibogaine for PTSD.
However, The Daily Mail reported that Ammel faces separate allegations of violence and drug abuse. He is currently out on a $10,000 bond over claims he assaulted a physician assistant in a North Carolina hospital in November. Heather's divorce petition similarly describes "uncontrollable bouts of anger" allegedly fueled by marijuana, alcohol, and psychedelics.
The lawsuit notes Ammel worked for Sinema from 2022 until 2025. The former senator has yet to issue a public statement addressing the specific allegations in the lawsuit or the disruptive events in Utah.
