The Independent World
· collected 2026-09-04 · by Jonathan J. Cooper
A lawsuit filed by the ex-wife of Kyrsten Sinema's bodyguard against Sinema can proceed under North Carolina's "homewrecker law", which allows jilted spouses to sue a third party for causing their marriage to end. The lawsuit alleges that Sinema, a former US Senator from Arizona, interfered with Matthew Ammel's marriage by pursuing a romantic relationship with him despite knowing he was married. Judge David A. Bragdon ruled that Sinema has sufficient connection to North Carolina to face the lawsuit due to text messages she sent to her bodyguard in the state. The suit seeks financial compensation from Sinema for allegedly causing the breakdown of Matthew Ammel's marriage.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Former US Senator Kyrsten Sinema is facing a lawsuit under North Carolina's "homewrecker" law, which allows jilted spouses to sue third parties responsible for breaking up their marriage. The lawsuit was brought by Heather Ammel, the ex-wife of Matthew Ammel, who used to work as Sinema's security detail in Arizona. Sinema had argued that she shouldn't be sued because she has no connection to North Carolina, but a judge rejected this claim, ruling that nine text messages sent from Sinema to Matthew Ammel while he was in the state established jurisdiction over her. The lawsuit alleges that Sinema's relationship with Matthew Ammel interfered with his marriage to Heather and seeks financial compensation. This is possible under North Carolina law because Sinema allegedly pursued a romantic relationship with Matthew despite knowing he was married, starting on May 27, 2024, during a trip to Napa, California. The judge cleared the way for the lawsuit to move forward, allowing it to proceed against Sinema.
Written for “Kyrsten Sinema Lawsuit Continues” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 3970 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
A judge has cleared the way for former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to be sued under North Carolina’s homewrecker law.
asserted
Sinema → clear → law
Sinema tried to argue she shouldn’t face a lawsuit over her relationship with a member of her security detail in North Carolina because she has no connection to the state.
asserted
she → try → state
U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon rejected that claim and ruled that nine text messages sent to Matthew Ammel, her bodyguard, while he was in the state establish North Carolina's jurisdiction over her.
uncertain
he → reject → her
He called it implausible that she was unaware of Ammel's whereabouts when texting him.
asserted
she → call → him
Steven Epstein, Sinema's attorney, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
asserted
Epstein → respond → comment
The legal action, brought by Ammel’s ex-wife, seeks financial compensation from Sinema, who represented Arizona in the U.S. House and later completed a single term in the Senate early last year.
asserted
who → bring → Senate
North Carolina is among a small number of states allowing jilted spouses to bring suits for "alienation of affection" to obtain damages from a third party deemed responsible for a broken marriage.
asserted
spouses → allow → marriage
Matthew and Heather Ammel maintained "a good and loving marriage" with "genuine love and affection" prior to Sinema’s interference, pursuing Matthew Ammel despite knowing he was married, Heather Ammel alleges in her lawsuit.
asserted
Ammel → maintain → lawsuit
Matthew Ammel joined Sinema's security team after retiring from the Army in 2022 and accompanied her on domestic and foreign travel, the complaint states.
asserted
complaint → join → travel
In early 2024, Heather Ammel discovered "romantic and lascivious" messages exchanged between her husband and Sinema on the Signal messaging app.
asserted
Ammel → discover → app
By that summer, he stopped wearing his wedding ring, and Sinema appointed him as a national security fellow in her Senate office as he continued working as a campaign bodyguard, the lawsuit states.
asserted
lawsuit → stop → bodyguard
During a deposition in July, Sinema described their sexual encounters, testifying the relationship became sexual on May 27, 2024, during a trip to Napa, California.
uncertain
relationship → describe → Napa
She stated they later had encounters in New York, Washington, Colorado and Arizona, but never North Carolina.
asserted
they → state → York
Matthew and Heather Ammel separated on Nov. 1, 2024.
asserted
Matthew → separate → Nov.
