Full Breakdown
Kyrsten Sinema’s Alleged Affair Triggers Alienation-of-Affection Suit
8/15/2026, 9:25:05 PM
Alleged Affair and Lawsuit Overview
Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema is being sued in North Carolina under the state’s alienation-of-affection law. The plaintiff, Heather Ammel, alleges that Sinema’s sexual relationship with her then-married bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, broke up the Ammels’ 14-year marriage. The complaint claims the affair began in late May 2024 while the parties were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California, and continued through at least October 2024, including encounters in Washington, D.C., Phoenix, and Aspen, Colorado.
Deposition Testimony and Text Messages
In a deposition recorded on July 31, Sinema testified that she first had sex with Ammel “around Memorial Day 2024.” She acknowledged that Ammel was married with three children at the time. Sinema also disclosed that she turned over roughly 1,200 pages of documents to the Ammels, of which only four pages contained text messages and just one was sent to North Carolina.
Legal Context and Proceedings
Sinema’s legal team moved to transfer the case to federal court and later sought dismissal, arguing that the alleged encounters occurred outside North Carolina and that the federal court lacks personal jurisdiction. The North Carolina filing remains active, and an evidentiary hearing is scheduled for mid-August, as noted in the court documents.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California. We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex,” — S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, lawyer
- “Putting my hand on your heart. I'll see you soon. I miss you.” — S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, lawyer
Upcoming Hearing
The court has set an evidentiary hearing for mid-August to address jurisdictional and factual disputes. The outcome will determine whether the alienation-of-affection claim proceeds in state court.
