Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema is facing a lawsuit in North Carolina under a law commonly referred to as the “homewrecker” law. A federal judge ruled that the state has jurisdiction over claims that Sinema contributed to the breakdown of a marriage by engaging in an affair.
Sinema admitted to having a sexual relationship with Matthew Ammel, who served as part of her security detail during her time as a senator. She argued that North Carolina could not sue her due to her lack of significant ties to the state. However, U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon dismissed Sinema’s claims, noting that she was aware Matthew resided in North Carolina with his wife, Heather Ammel, and their three children.
The judge highlighted that Heather Ammel discovered the affair in 2024 after reading several messages Sinema sent to her husband while he was in North Carolina. These communications provided sufficient grounds for Heather Ammel’s lawsuit to be pursued in the state.
Sinema’s involvement with Ammel was marked by messaging that indicated a romantic relationship and intrusion into Ammel’s marriage, according to court findings.
In her civil suit, Heather Ammel seeks damages from Sinema, alleging interference with her marriage. North Carolina is one of the few states where alienation-of-affection claims are still legally recognized, allowing a spouse to file for damages against a third party thought to be responsible for a marriage’s breakdown.
Sinema’s legal representatives, Steven Epstein and Abigail Jenkins, did not provide a comment on the ruling.
The lawsuit detailed that Matthew Ammel joined Sinema’s security team in 2022 after his military service. Subsequently, he began traveling with Sinema for work assignments both domestically and internationally.
Sinema, who remains unmarried, indicated in a July deposition that her affair with Ammel began around Memorial Day 2024 during a trip to Napa, California, where they engaged in a sexual encounter after sharing a kiss.
Following that period, Ammel ceased wearing his wedding ring and accepted a position as a national security fellow in Sinema’s Senate office, as claimed by Heather Ammel’s lawsuit. Sinema admitted to having further encounters in places such as New York, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona, but not North Carolina.
The Ammels separated in November 2024, with their divorce finalizing in March 2026, according to legal documents.