Sinema details affair in lawsuit by bodyguard's ex-wife

Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema has provided detailed sworn testimony about her romantic relationship with a married former bodyguard, as part of a lawsuit filed by his ex-wife seeking damages for the collapse of their marriage. The testimony, given in a July 31 deposition, is central to a legal battle scheduled for an evidentiary hearing on August 19, 2026.

Sinema, who represented Arizona in the Senate from 2019 to 2025 and left office as an Independent, acknowledged having a sexual relationship with Matthew Ammel, who was married with three children at the time. The relationship began in May 2024. In her deposition, Sinema stated, "We were staying at an Airbnb in Napa, California. We were outside. Matt kissed me. We went inside and had sex." She confirmed she was aware Ammel was married and had children while their relationship was ongoing.

The lawsuit was filed by Heather Ammel, Matthew Ammel's former wife, under North Carolina's alienation of affection law. She is seeking at least $75,000 in damages, alleging that Sinema's conduct contributed to the end of her 14-year marriage. The case has been moved to federal court, where Sinema's attorneys are arguing for dismissal on...