A federal judge ruled on Friday that Kyrsten Sinema, a former U.S. Senator, can face a lawsuit in North Carolina under the state's alienation of affection law, often called the "homewrecker" statute.

Sinema, a former Democrat Congresswoman turned Independent U.S. Senator from Arizona, left political office after not seeking reelection to her Senate seat in 2024. In a sworn declaration filed last March, Sinema admitted to having an extended romantic and sexual affair with Matthew Ammel, an Army veteran and member of her security detail, during her tenure in the Senate. According to filings from Sinema's legal team, the relationship became physical during a trip to California and continued with numerous other encounters taking place in other states.

Heather Ammel, then-wife to Matthew Ammel and mother of their three children, filed a lawsuit against Sinema alleging that she and her husband had maintained a loving marriage before Sinema's interference. The couple separated in November of 2024 following Heather Ammel's discovery of the affair and explicit messages exchanged between Sinema and her husband. Their divorce was finalized in March of 2026.

Ammel alleged that Sinema had knowingly and intentionally seduced her husband. She also claimed Sinema had encouraged her husband's use of MDMA. Sinema refuted the claim. The suit by Ammel seeks damages and punitive awards from Sinema for causing the breakdown of the marriage.

U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon denied Sinema's motion to dismiss the case. Bragdon noted that Sinema's testimony on several key matters lacked credibility and that messages shared between the two showed the former Arizona senator building an intentional romantic relationship and invading his marriage, all while he was home with his family.

North Carolina is one of the only remaining states that still permits alien of affection claims, allowing spurned spouses to seek compensation from a third party accused of causing the loss of affection in a marriage. Sinema's legal team argued she lacked meaningful ties to North Carolina and that the court had no jurisdiction over the suit. Bragdon rejected those arguments.

The case will now proceed to federal court in North Carolina.