Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema Faces Lawsuit Under North Carolina's Homewrecker Law
Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema is facing a lawsuit under North Carolina's homewrecker law due to her romantic involvement with a member of her security detail, Matthew Ammel. Despite Sinema's argument that she has no ties to North Carolina, U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon ruled that the nine text messages she sent to Ammel while he was in the state establish jurisdiction over her. Sinema's lawyer has not yet commented on the ruling.
The lawsuit, brought by Ammel's ex-wife, alleges that Sinema pursued a relationship with Matthew Ammel despite knowing he was married, ultimately leading to the breakdown of their marriage. Heather Ammel claims that the couple had a strong and loving relationship before Sinema's interference. Matthew Ammel, a retired Army member, joined Sinema's security team in 2022 and traveled with her both domestically and internationally.
Heather Ammel discovered intimate messages exchanged between her husband and Sinema on the Signal messaging app in early 2024. Following this revelation, Matthew Ammel reportedly stopped wearing his wedding ring, and Sinema offered him a job as a national security fellow in her Senate office while he continued to work as her bodyguard during her campaign. Sinema admitted to engaging in sexual activities with Matthew Ammel during a deposition, stating that their relationship became physical in May 2024 during a trip to Napa, California.
Despite the sexual encounters taking place in various locations such as New York, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona, Sinema claims that they never occurred in North Carolina. The Ammels separated on November 1, 2024, following the revelation of the affair. North Carolina is among the states that permit jilted spouses to sue for "alienation of affection" to seek compensation from a third party involved in the dissolution of their marriage.
In conclusion, the legal battle between Kyrsten Sinema and Heather Ammel continues as the former senator faces allegations of being a homewrecker under North Carolina law. The lawsuit highlights the complexities of personal relationships and the legal consequences that can arise from extramarital affairs.