Lawsuit accuses Kyrsten Sinema of breaking up her bodyguard’s marriage while in office

PHOENIX — Kyrsten Sinema is being sued by a woman who alleged that the former U.S. senator from Arizona had an affair with her husband and broke up her marriage.

In a lawsuit filed on Sept. 30, Heather Ammel accused Sinema of intentionally and maliciously interfering with her marriage to Matthew Ammel after he joined the senator’s security detail in 2022, while she was still in office.

Sinema served one term in the Senate, choosing not to seek reelection in 2024.

The lawsuit was initially filed in a state court in North Carolina, one of the few states that recognizes “alienation of affection” as grounds for an ex-spouse to sue a third party, but it reached federal court on Wednesday.

“Beginning in or prior to 2023, (Sinema), with actual knowledge of the marriage between (Heather Ammel) and Mr. Ammel, began to willfully and intentionally seduce, entice and alienate the affections of Mr. Ammel,” the lawsuit says.

Details about alleged affair between Kyrsten Sinema and her married bodyguard

The lawsuit paints a detailed picture of how the alleged relationship developed, including descriptions of trips, hotel rooms and concerts, including Green Day, Taylor Swift and U2.

By March 2024, Sinema and her bodyguard held hands at the Extra Innings Festival in Phoenix, according to court documents.

In July 2024, he allegedly took one of the children he shares with his wife on a trip to see a Green Day concert with Sinema, during which the three toured the U.S. Capitol.

Shortly after, Ammel started saying he wanted a divorce from his wife, according to the lawsuit. In July 2024, he allegedly took the child he shares with his wife to a Green Day concert with Sinema. The three allegedly took a tour of the U.S. Capitol during the trip.

Additionally, the lawsuit said Sinema suggested her bodyguard try drugs.

“(Sinema) suggested for Mr. Ammel to bring MDMA drugs on a work trip so that she could guide him through a psychedelic experience,” court documents said.

In a March 2025 interview with Phoenix New Times, Sinema said that he took time off from her security detail to travel to Mexico for ibogaine treatment. The treatment, made from the root of a West African plant, was used to help with his migraine symptoms caused by a traumatic brain injury.

What is former wife of bodyguard trying to achieve by suing Kyrsten Sinema?

The Ammels separated on Nov. 1, 2024.

Heather Ammel is suing for damages, citing anguish, depression, anxiety, loss of sleep, shame, financial issues and other hardships. She is also seeking costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees be paid by Sinema.

The lawsuit said Sinema might be brought to court for a jury trial in North Carolina, which is where the Ammel family lived prior to their divorce.

The lawsuit also alleges that Sinema is still in a romantic and sexual relationship with Matthew Ammel, saying that she accompanied him to the marital residence in North Carolina to pick up his belongings on Sept. 16, 2025.

KTAR News 92.3 FM reached out to a spokesperson with Sinema for a comment but did not receive a response.

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