Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema faces a lawsuit under North Carolina's "alienation of affection" law after a federal judge rejected her claim that she lacked sufficient ties to the state.
U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon ruled Friday that nine text messages Sinema sent to Matthew Ammel while he was in North Carolina established jurisdiction. The judge found it implausible that Sinema was unaware of Ammel's location when she sent the communications.
Sinema, who represented Arizona for one Senate term ending early last year, acknowledged a romantic relationship with Ammel, a member of her security detail. Ammel's ex-wife, Heather Ammel, filed the lawsuit seeking financial damages, alleging Sinema interfered with her marriage.
North Carolina is one of a handful of states that permit such lawsuits, allowing a spouse to seek compensation from a third party deemed responsible for a marriage's breakup.
Heather Ammel's complaint alleges she and Matthew Ammel had a loving marriage before Sinema's involvement. She claims Sinema pursued Matthew Ammel despite knowing he was married.
Matthew Ammel joined Sinema's security team in 2022 after retiring from the Army. He traveled with Sinema on both domestic and foreign trips, according to the lawsuit.
In early 2024, Heather Ammel discovered romantic messages exchanged between her husband and Sinema on the Signal messaging app. That summer, Matthew Ammel stopped wearing his wedding ring.
Sinema then gave Matthew Ammel a job as a national security fellow in her Senate office. He continued to work for her campaign as a bodyguard, the lawsuit alleges.
During a July deposition, Sinema testified the relationship became sexual on May 27, 2024, during a trip to Napa, California. She later testified to sexual encounters in New York, Washington, Colorado and Arizona but maintained the relationship never involved sexual activity within North Carolina.
Matthew and Heather Ammel officially separated on Nov. 1, 2024. Steven Epstein, Sinema's lawyer, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
