Former Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who only served one tumultuous term in DC, is back in the news, and she’s turning heads again.
Sinema, who became an Indepdendent while still in office, is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the former wife of her one-time bodyguard as a legal dispute over their relationship heads toward a court hearing scheduled for next week.
The former Arizona senator has acknowledged having a romantic and sexual relationship with Matthew Ammel, who was married when the relationship began.
Heather Ammel, his former wife, filed a lawsuit against Sinema under North Carolina’s “alienation of affection” law, alleging that the relationship contributed to the collapse of their 14-year marriage.
According to a recent deposition, Sinema described multiple sexual encounters with Ammel, including an initial encounter at an Airbnb in Napa, California, in May 2024.
Sinema’s attorneys have argued that the case should be dismissed because the alleged relationship did not occur in North Carolina, where the lawsuit was filed.
The case is scheduled for an evidentiary hearing on Aug. 19. Heather Ammel is seeking at least $75,000 in damages.
Sinema left the Senate in January 2025 after completing one term representing Arizona.
Sinema, who is unmarried, said in a July 31 deposition that she first had sex with Ammel around Memorial Day 2024.
“We were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California. We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex,” Sinema said in her deposition, which took place in a Raleigh law office.
Sinema said she and Ammel stayed at the property with her friends, Penny and Grant Croissant, as well as another member of her security team.
According to the deposition, their relationship continued the following month when Sinema traveled to New York City to attend the wedding of CNN anchor Jessica Dean.
Although the two stayed in separate hotel rooms, Sinema said they were intimate in her room during the trip.
The deposition also states that the pair had another encounter in mid-July at Sinema’s Washington, D.C., apartment after returning from the West Coast on a red-eye flight.
Sinema further testified that she and Ammel traveled to Aspen, Colorado, in mid-August for what she described as a fundraising trip, where they again became intimate, according to the deposition transcript.
Sinema said she could not recall another alleged encounter in Washington, D.C., in late September, according to the deposition.
Ammel, however, confirmed that the encounter took place during his own deposition.
The relationship continued into October 2024, when the two had sex again at Sinema’s home in Phoenix, according to the court filings.
Sinema acknowledged during her deposition that she was aware Ammel was married and had three children while their relationship was ongoing.
During questioning, an attorney also asked Sinema about a photograph she had sent to Ammel that showed her wrapped in a towel, according to the deposition transcript.
“I’m an endurance athlete. So a photograph of me with cupping marks is about sports,” Sinema responded.
She went on to testify that she didn’t recall ending Ammel that specific photograph.
In another message to Ammel, Sinema, who is not married, wrote, “Putting my hand on your heart. I’ll see you soon. I miss you.”
“You understand, Ms. Sinema, don’t you, that a wife reading this might get concerned about who is sending her husband that kind of message referring to putting his — her hand on his heart? Can you see that?” the lawyer asked.
“Yes,” Sinema said.
Heather Ammel also provided testimony in the case during a deposition.
According to her testimony, she said she discovered the relationship after her husband returned home “severely intoxicated” while the couple was staying at her parents’ house.
During her deposition, Heather Ammel read a message aloud that she discovered on her husband’s phone that was sent by Sinema.
“I hope your day was okay. Thinking of you. I am with you. I keep waking up during my sleep and reaching over for your arms to hold me,” the message said.
