Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema acknowledged a romantic and physical affair with her former bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, in a sworn declaration filed Friday in federal court in North Carolina. The admission came as part of her motion to dismiss an "alienation of affection" lawsuit brought by Ammel's ex-wife, Heather Ammel, who accuses Sinema of destroying their 14-year marriage.

Heather Ammel filed the suit in September 2025 in Moore County, North Carolina, seeking more than $25,000 in damages plus punitive awards under the state's rare tort law that holds third parties liable for interfering in marriages. The complaint alleges Sinema seduced Matthew Ammel, a father of three and Army veteran hired for her security detail, leading to their separation in October 2024. It claims the couple had been happily married until Sinema's involvement, including allegations that she encouraged him to take MDMA to ease his PTSD; Sinema stated she has no recollection of that suggestion.

In her declaration, Sinema detailed the relationship's timeline. It began on May 27, 2024, during a security detail in Sonoma, California, when the pair became physically intimate for the first time. Subsequent encounters occurred in mid-June in New York City; mid-July and late-September in Washington, D.C.; late August in Aspen, Colorado; and early October in Phoenix, Arizona. The affair lasted about five months, ending around Ammel's separation from his wife.

Sinema argued for dismissal, stating all physical intimacy and relevant communications happened exclusively outside North Carolina, depriving the court of jurisdiction. She noted Ammel traveled frequently for work and that their phone calls and emails during the romantic period occurred only when he was out of state. "Defendant admits that she and Plaintiff’s husband, Matthew Ammel, began a romantic relationship in May 2024, about five months prior to his separation from Plaintiff," her filing states, but emphasizes no tortious acts took place in the state.

Ammel's head of security had hired him after his Army retirement. Sinema, who represented Arizona as an independent after switching from the Democratic Party, did not seek reelection in 2024 and left the Senate early last year. North Carolina is one of six states recognizing alienation of affection claims.

The court has not yet ruled on the motion.