A federal judge ruled Friday that former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema can be sued under North Carolina's "homewrecker" law over a relationship she had with a married member of her security team that began in the Bay Area's Wine Country.
The affair with Matthew Ammel began during a May 2024 trip to Napa, where the two first had sex, according to court testimony. Sinema, a former Democrat from Arizona who became an independent, was still serving in the Senate at the time and Ammel was working on her security detail. The relationship allegedly continued for several months through trips to New York City; Washington, D.C.; Aspen, Colo.; and Phoenix, according to court records.
Ammel's wife, Heather Ammel, sued Sinema in 2025, alleging she had contributed to the dissolution of their 14-year marriage.
The lawsuit was filed in North Carolina, where the couple and their three children lived, under what's commonly referred to as the state's "homewrecker" law, which allows a spouse to sue a third party accused of wrongfully causing the loss of affection in their marriage.
North Carolina is one of just a handful of states that allow jilted spouses to sue for "alienation of affection," according to the Associated Press.
Sinema acknowledged having a romantic relationship with Matthew Ammel, according to the Associated Press, but asked a federal judge to dismiss the case, arguing that the relationship took place outside North Carolina and that she has no connection to the state.
U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon rejected that argument in a ruling Friday, citing evidence that Sinema had sent nine text messages to Matthew Ammel while he was home in North Carolina. The judge said he found it "implausible" that Sinema did not know Ammel's whereabouts during these communications.
"Ms. Sinema knew that Mr. Ammel was married, lived in North Carolina, and had children there," the judge wrote. "The evidence further supports the conclusion that she knew Mr. Ammel generally returned to North Carolina when he was not with her."
Sinema's lawyer, Steven Epstein, did not immediately respond to an email Saturday seeking comment about the ruling.
The Ammels separated in late 2024, and their divorce was finalized this year, according to court records.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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This article originally published at 'Homewrecker' suit can proceed against ex-Sen. Kyrsten Sinema over affair with bodyguard.