Former Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent, has found herself at the center of a legal battle that has pulled her private life into the public record. According to a report from TMZ, Sinema testified under oath about her romantic and sexual relationship with Matthew Ammel, a former bodyguard who is now her boyfriend.
The testimony came as part of a lawsuit filed by Matthew Ammel’s ex-wife, Heather Ammel, in North Carolina. The suit alleges that Sinema broke up the couple’s marriage, a claim that falls under the state’s so-called âhomewreckerâ law, which allows spouses to sue a third party for having sex with their partner and causing the marriage to end.
The couple had been married for 14 years before their split, according to Public Radio East. In her deposition, Sinema described the beginning of her relationship with Matthew Ammel in specific detail, saying it started in late May 2024 while they were in California.
âWe were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California. We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex,â Sinema said, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ. She said under oath that this was the first time they had kissed or had sex.
Legal Dispute Over North Carolina Ties
The lawsuit hinges on whether Sinema’s actions fall under North Carolina’s jurisdiction. Sinema has argued in court filings that the law should not apply in her case because she does not have sufficient ties to the state. Her legal team has claimed that the relationship did not take place on North Carolina soil until after the couple had already separated.
Court documents also detail racy texts and luxury trips to Napa Valley and Saudi Arabia, but Sinema’s team maintains that these events occurred outside North Carolina and before the Ammels’ marriage had legally ended. The distinction is crucial because the âhomewreckerâ statute requires the alleged interference to have occurred while the marriage was still intact.
The case has also drawn attention for the aggressive legal tactics employed by Sinema’s attorney, Steven Epstein. According to the Phoenix New Times, Epstein used a subpoena in June to seek documents from Heather Ammel’s therapist, including session dates, notes, intake forms, invoices, and other communications from 2024. Heather Ammel’s attorney, Thomas Van Camp, fought the subpoena, initially requesting its withdrawal and then filing a motion to block it. Van Camp argued that Sinema’s request was âcompletely unrelated to the issue of Defendant’s contacts with North Carolinaâ and fell outside the court’s discovery order.
Sinema’s Post-Senate Life
Sinema announced in March 2024 that she would retire at the end of the year and not seek reelection, a decision that was widely reported at the time. Since leaving office, she has largely stayed out of the public spotlight, but this legal dispute has thrust her back into the headlines.
The relationship between Sinema and Matthew Ammel reportedly began while he was still married and working as her bodyguard. The details of the affair, coupled with the legal maneuvering, have turned the case into a spectacle that blends personal drama with legal technicalities.
As the case continues, courts will need to determine whether Sinema’s connections to North Carolina are sufficient to allow the lawsuit to proceed. If the court rules in favor of Heather Ammel, Sinema could face financial damages. If Sinema prevails, the case could be dismissed on jurisdictional grounds, ending the legal battle before it reaches a trial on the merits.
Neither Sinema nor Matthew Ammel has publicly commented on the testimony, and the legal filings remain the primary source of information. The case is ongoing, and more details could emerge as the discovery process continues.
Source: www.breitbart.com â https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/15/kyrsten-sinema-details-affair-with-bodyguard-in-legal-fight-with-his-ex-wife-we-went-inside-and-had-sex/