Former US Senator Kyrsten Sinema has acknowledged in recent court documents that she had a “romantic and intimate” relationship with a married man who once served on her Senate security team. The revelation emerged in legal filings connected to a federal lawsuit that accuses the former lawmaker of interfering in a marriage.
According to the filings, former US senator Kyrsten Sinema admitted to being physically involved with Matthew Joseph Ammel during the final year of her time in the US Senate. However, she strongly denied any legal wrongdoing and asked a federal judge to dismiss the case brought against her. The lawsuit was filed by Ammel’s estranged wife, Heather Ammel, who claims the relationship damaged her marriage.
Lawsuit Filed Under North Carolina’s “Homewrecker” Law
The lawsuit relies on North Carolina’s rarely used “alienation of affection” law, also known as a “homewrecker” law. This legal provision allows a spouse to sue a third party if they believe that person intentionally interfered with their marriage.
Heather Ammel alleges that Former US senator Kyrsten Sinema knowingly pursued her husband despite being aware that he was married. The complaint claims the former senator’s actions led to the breakdown of the couple’s relationship.
The lawsuit also states that Heather discovered romantic messages exchanged between Sinema and Matthew. Among the evidence referenced in the complaint was a photograph allegedly showing Sinema wrapped in a towel, which Heather claims she found among her husband’s communications.
Sinema Requests Court to Dismiss the Case
In response to the accusations, Former US senator Kyrsten Sinema has asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit entirely. Her legal argument centers on jurisdiction, arguing that none of the alleged encounters occurred in North Carolina.
The filing, submitted on March 12, argues that the relationship and all related communications occurred outside the state. Sinema’s legal team says the North Carolina court, therefore, has no authority to hear the case under the state’s alienation of affection law.
Additionally, the court documents say that Former US senator Kyrsten Sinema was not familiar with Matthew Ammel’s daily life in North Carolina during most of their interactions. According to her statement, she only became aware of his regular presence in the state in December 2023, more than a year after he began working on her security detail.
Details of Meetings Across Multiple States
The filings also outline several meetings between Sinema and Ammel that took place in various US locations. According to the documents, the pair interacted in states including California, New York, Washington, D.C., Colorado, and Arizona.
In the court response, Former US senator Kyrsten Sinema acknowledged that the relationship included physical intimacy. However, she disputed several claims made in the lawsuit.
Sinema denied sending the towel photograph mentioned in the complaint. She also rejected allegations that she instructed Ammel to bring MDMA for what the lawsuit described as a psychedelic experience.
Financial Records and Campaign Payments
The controversy has also drawn attention to financial records related to Sinema’s former campaign organization. Campaign finance documents indicate that Matthew Ammel received approximately $9,000 in payments from Sinema’s former campaign committee in October 2025.
Records suggest that the total payments to Ammel exceeded $100,000 after Former US senator Kyrsten Sinema left office in January 2025. These payments have raised questions among watchdog groups.
One watchdog complaint alleges that campaign funds may have been used for personal expenses, including international travel, hotel stays, and gifts. While the allegations have attracted scrutiny, no formal ruling has yet determined whether any campaign finance laws were violated.
Renewed Public Attention on Sinema’s Career
The lawsuit has brought renewed public attention to Former US senator Kyrsten Sinema, who served a single term representing Arizona after winning a competitive Senate race in 2018. During her time in office, she became widely known for her bipartisan approach and willingness to work with lawmakers from both major parties.
However, her political decisions often drew criticism from members of her own party. Several Democrats expressed frustration with Sinema for blocking or delaying key legislative priorities during President Joe Biden’s administration.
In 2022, Sinema made headlines again when she changed her political affiliation from Democrat to independent while continuing to caucus with the Democratic Party.
Life After the Senate
Since leaving public office, Former US senator Kyrsten Sinema has moved into the private sector. She currently serves as a senior adviser at the global law and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells.
Beyond her professional work, Sinema has also spoken publicly about emerging medical research, particularly in the area of psychedelic medicine. She has shared personal experiences with ibogaine treatment and has discussed its potential benefits in areas such as neurological health and dementia prevention.
Legal Case Still Ongoing
The lawsuit against Former US senator Kyrsten Sinema remains unresolved as the court considers her request to dismiss the case. If the judge agrees with her legal argument that the relationship occurred entirely outside North Carolina, the lawsuit could be thrown out.
For now, the case continues to attract public and media attention, combining elements of personal controversy, unusual state law, and questions surrounding political life after public office.
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