Kyrsten Sinema, a former senator, recently disclosed details about an alleged affair with her previous bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, who was married at the time. During a deposition on July 31, Sinema, 50, recounted, “We were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California,” as reported by People. “We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex.”
This deposition came as part of a lawsuit initiated by Matthew’s ex-wife, Heather Ammel, which was filed under North Carolina’s alienation of affection law. This legislation allows individuals to sue for the deliberate destruction of a marriage. Heather is pursuing $75,000 in damages. Sinema has sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, contending that the alleged affair did not occur in North Carolina, where the Ammels resided.
During the July deposition, Sinema testified under oath that her first intimate encounter with Matthew occurred in Napa, California, around Memorial Day in 2024. They later met in New York City a month after for a wedding, where Sinema stated they were intimate in her hotel room despite having separate accommodations.
The former senator recounted additional meetings between July and October 2024 at her residences in Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, and a trip to Aspen. A text message from Sinema to Matthew in October 2024, shown during the deposition, read, “Putting my hand on my heart. I’ll see you soon. I miss you.”
When asked whether she understood why such a message might concern a spouse, Sinema replied, “Yes.” Us reached out to Sinema for comments.
Sinema first admitted to the affair with her married bodyguard in March, as part of an attempt to have Heather’s lawsuit dismissed. She acknowledged being aware of Matthew’s marital status during their relationship. Heather’s lawsuit, filed the previous year, claims Sinema deliberately disrupted a “good and loving marriage” characterized by “genuine love and affection,” as reported by CBS News. The lawsuit is based on claims that Sinema called and texted Matthew while knowing he was in North Carolina with his family.
Sinema’s legal team has countered these allegations, asserting that she only contacted Matthew when the marriage was effectively over. Steven Epstein, Sinema’s attorney, argued in March that her actions do not establish a meaningful connection to North Carolina. Matthew was reportedly hired as Sinema’s head of security after retiring from the U.S. Army in 2022. Heather allegedly discovered messages of a “romantic and lascivious nature” between Sinema and Matthew on the Signal app two years later.
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An evidentiary hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19. Initially filed in North Carolina state court, the lawsuit has since been moved to federal court.
From 2013 to 2019, Sinema served Arizona’s 9th district in the House of Representatives before her term in the U.S. Senate from 2019 to 2025. She drew controversy by leaving the Democratic Party to become an Independent in December 2022.
Sinema announced in March 2024 that she would not seek re-election. Democrat Ruben Gallego succeeded her Senate seat, defeating Donald Trump’s ally, Kari Lake, in the November 2024 election. Sinema stated, “Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done, I will leave the Senate at the end of this year.” She currently works as a senior adviser for the Washington, D.C., lobbying firm Hogan Lovells Cadwalader.
