Former Sen. Sinema Acknowledges ‘Romantic And Intimate’ Relationship With Married Bodyguard In Lawsuit By Ex-Wife

Former Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona admitted in a new court filing that she carried on a “romantic and intimate” relationship with her married bodyguard while serving in the U.S. Senate.

The admission followed a lawsuit from Heather Ammel against Sinema for allegedly having an affair with her then-husband Matthew Ammel. He served on Sinema’s security detail. Heather Ammel said the relationship led to the collapse of their 14-year marriage, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. The suit was initially filed in late 2025 before moving to a North Carolina federal court in January. (RELATED: Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Had MDMA-Laced Affair With Her Married Security Guard, Lawsuit Alleges)

Sinema did not contest the affair in her sworn declaration, according to Fox News. Instead, her attorneys argued the North Carolina court has no authority over the case because the relationship took place entirely outside the state’s borders. Heather Ammel’s complaint accused Sinema of deliberately interfering in the couple’s marriage and sought $25,000 in damages, Fox News reported.

Former U.S. senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona acknowledged having a “romantic and intimate” relationship with a member of her Senate security detail while in office but argued that a lawsuit filed by the bodyguard’s former wife should be dismissed. https://t.co/ufj6ItwPAf

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 14, 2026

The court filing placed the start of the affair in May 2024 in California and said it continued in New York, Colorado, Arizona and Washington, D.C., the Associated Press reported. The two also communicated through phone calls, emails and the encrypted messaging app Signal. Heather Ammel at one point interrupted a Signal conversation between the pair and confronted Sinema directly, Fox News reported.

The original lawsuit alleged Sinema flew Ammel on expensive solo trips and covered the cost of psychedelic therapy for him. She also allegedly told him to bring MDMA on a work trip so she could facilitate a drug experience for him.

Sinema’s former top security official raised alarms in 2023 over her alleged sexual involvement with other members of her protection team, according to the lawsuit. Heather Ammel also said her husband suffered from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries tied to his Army service.

North Carolina remains one of only a few states where spouses can file alienation of affection claims against a third party. Cases that go to trial in the state have resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts, WRAL reported.