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Ex-Bodyguard Arrested After $200,000 Home-Destruction Spree
By Drooid · · How we work
Ex-Bodyguard Arrested for Home Damage
Former Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema reported that her on-time bodyguard and former partner, Matthew Ammel, entered her Cave Creek residence and caused roughly $200,000 in damage. Police records say Ammel demanded that Sinema post a video on her X account; after she refused, he allegedly threatened to destroy a painting every ten minutes. Investigators documented smashed bottles, a shattered wall-mounted mirror, and about 22 paintings removed from walls and thrown into the pool, some spray-painted with black lettering. Sinema provided deputies with text messages and video evidence of the destruction, giving probable cause for the criminal-damage charge.
Background: Political Career and Civil Lawsuit
Sinema left the U.S. Senate in 2025 after twelve years in Congress and now serves as a senior advisor at a global law firm while teaching at Arizona State University (ASU). The arrest follows a separate civil suit filed in North Carolina by Ammel’s ex-wife, Heather Ammel, under the state’s “alienation of affection” law, alleging that Sinema’s extramarital relationship with Ammel—beginning in May 2024 while he was still married—contributed to the breakdown of their 14-year marriage.
Official Statements & Responses
Sinema called Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies to report the incident and supplied the documented evidence. A deputy noted during Ammel’s first court appearance that he appeared “combative” and was being held in a hallway. ASU issued a statement confirming that Ammel’s fellowship with the university ends at the end of October and that the program supports veteran training in alternative farming practices. Both Sinema’s and Ammel’s attorneys declined to comment on the ongoing civil litigation.
Criticism & Opposition
Political consultant Stan Barnes described the episode as “unseemly” and “salacious,” arguing that it does not aid anyone’s reputation. He characterized Sinema as a rare figure in Arizona politics and suggested that her independent stance contributed to her inability to secure reelection. Barnes also speculated that the scandal, while sensational, is unlikely to jeopardize Sinema’s current livelihood in Washington.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s unseemly. It’s salacious, and it doesn’t help anyone’s reputation,” — Stan Barnes, political consultant
- “Sen. Sinema is among the most rare Arizona politicians in state history,” — Stan Barnes, political consultant
- “There’s something about that makes me smile that in this story of Kyrsten Sinema that it would involve artwork, expensive liquor, and a nice mirror. It somehow is illustrative of her love life wide open style as she’s in the public square,” — Stan Barnes, political consultant
- “I don’t think she is in danger of losing her livelihood over it. Washington is a cynical place,” — Stan Barnes, political consultant