Kyrsten Sinema Sued Over Alleged Affair With Staffer

Former Senator Kyrsten Sinema, once lauded for her maverick approach to politics, now finds herself at the center of a personal and legal storm. The former Arizona lawmaker, who left the Senate in 2024 after a career marked by bipartisan dealmaking and controversial stances, is being sued in North Carolina by Heather Ammel, the ex-wife of one of her former staffers. The lawsuit, filed in Moore County and first reported in September 2025, accuses Sinema of intentionally and maliciously interfering in the Ammels' 14-year marriage—a claim that has thrust the onetime senator back into national headlines.

According to the complaint, Heather Ammel alleges that Sinema seduced her then-husband, Matthew Ammel, who began working for Sinema in April 2022 as part of her security detail. The accusations are strikingly detailed, painting a picture of a relationship that crossed professional boundaries and ultimately, according to the suit, destroyed a family. Sinema, now a senior advisor at the law and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells, has not publicly commented on the allegations, and her attorney has requested to move the case to federal court as of January 2026, according to TIME.

The complaint is packed with bombshell claims. Heather Ammel asserts that Sinema and Matthew exchanged romantic and sexually explicit messages on the encrypted app Signal, including discussions of sexual positions and even sexually suggestive photos sent by Sinema. The suit alleges that Sinema asked Matthew to bring MDMA—commonly known as ecstasy or molly—on a work trip, offering to "guide him through a psychedelic experience." MDMA, a recreational drug known for enhancing sensory experiences, has recently been explored in therapeutic contexts, but the Food and Drug Administration declined to approve it for PTSD treatment in 2025. Sinema herself has advocated for research into psychedelic medicine, telling Politico in 2025 that she had discussed the issue with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Matthew Ammel, a former Army servicemember who deployed to Afghanistan and the Middle East, struggled with substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury, according to the lawsuit. The suit claims Sinema paid for his psychedelic treatments, including one in Nashville, Tennessee, and flew him to Napa Valley, California, to provide her security at a concert. She also allegedly purchased gifts for him and invited him alone to her hotel room, her apartment, and even stayed with him and friends in a private Airbnb.

The suit describes a gradual unraveling of the Ammels' marriage. In March 2024, while serving as Sinema's security at the Extra Innings Festival in Phoenix, Matthew allegedly told his then-wife that Sinema was "handsy" with him, holding his hand and touching him. When he messaged Sinema about having sex missionary style with the lights on, the senator replied, "Boring!"—a detail included in the complaint and reported by The Hill. Heather Ammel contends that these communications and encounters "exceeded the bounds of a normal working relationship and were of romantic and lascivious natures."

In the spring of 2024, Matthew stopped wearing his wedding ring, explaining, according to the lawsuit, that it would be better for "public optics" so "it wouldn't look like [Sinema] was putting her hands on a married man when they were out at concerts and various other public events." Around this time, Sinema's head of security resigned after expressing concerns to Matthew that Sinema "was having sexual relations with other security members." The former head reportedly encouraged Matthew to quit as well, but he chose to stay "due to the financial security of the job." Shortly after, in June 2024, Sinema offered Matthew a salaried position on her staff as a defense and national security fellow.

The situation reached a breaking point later that year. After a November 2024 work trip, Matthew admitted to the affair and filed for divorce, leaving Heather and their three children. The complaint asserts that Sinema encouraged Matthew to leave his wife and that her "intentional and unlawful actions" directly led to the loss of marital love and affection. Heather Ammel claims she provided a "comfortable and loving home environment" and was a "dutiful spouse and mother." She is seeking $75,000 in damages, as well as punitive damages and attorney's fees, under North Carolina's alienation of affection law—a "heartbalm tort" that allows a spouse to seek civil action and monetary compensation for the disruption of a marriage.

Alienation of affection claims, sometimes dubbed "homewrecker laws," are rare in the United States. Most states have abolished such statutes, but North Carolina remains one of six where they are still recognized, along with Hawaii, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The law, rooted in 19th-century legal tradition, requires proof of marriage, loss of affection, wrongful conduct by the defendant, and a causal connection between the conduct and the loss. Critics argue that the law treats spouses as property, but supporters say it provides recourse for those harmed by third-party interference in a marriage. Notably, the Utah legislature is currently considering abolishing the tort, highlighting ongoing debate about its relevance in modern society, as reported by TIME.

Sinema's rise and fall in national politics adds a layer of intrigue to the case. A former social worker and lawyer, she made history as the first openly bisexual member of the Senate and the first woman to represent Arizona in that body. Known for her centrist positions, she often frustrated progressives by opposing changes to Senate filibuster rules, blocking a $15 minimum wage, and voting with Republicans on key issues like student loan forgiveness. Her bipartisanship won praise from Republicans—Sen. Mitch McConnell once called her a "genuine moderate and a dealmaker"—but drew ire from many Democrats. In late 2022, Sinema left the Democratic Party to become an independent, stating, "I never really fit into a box of any political party." In 2024, she announced her retirement from the Senate, saying, "I believe in my approach but it’s not what America wants right now."

After leaving office, Sinema joined Hogan Lovells and continued to advocate for psychedelic medicine research. The current lawsuit, however, threatens to overshadow her post-Senate career and further complicate her public image. Sinema and Matthew Ammel reportedly appeared together at a forum in October 2024, according to a LinkedIn post cited by TIME, suggesting their relationship continued after his divorce.

As the legal battle unfolds, Sinema faces scrutiny not only for her alleged personal conduct but also for the broader implications of her actions as a public official. The case, replete with sensational details and legal complexities, is set to test the boundaries of privacy, accountability, and the law itself in the digital age. Heather Ammel, for her part, is seeking both justice and closure, arguing that the senator’s actions caused her irreparable harm. The outcome of this case could have lasting repercussions—not just for those directly involved, but for how similar claims are viewed in the future.

For now, all eyes remain on the North Carolina courts, where a jury may soon decide whether the former senator’s actions crossed the line from unconventional to unlawful.