Kyrsten Sinema, a former US Senator from Arizona, is facing a lawsuit from her former bodyguard's ex-wife. The lawsuit, filed in North Carolina, accuses Sinema of 'alienation of affection' for her involvement in the breakdown of the man's marriage. According to the lawsuit, Sinema had a romantic relationship with Matthew Ammel, a member of her security detail, despite knowing he was married. This relationship led to the discovery of 'romantic and lascivious' messages exchanged between Sinema and Ammel, which ultimately resulted in the breakdown of his marriage. The lawsuit seeks damages of at least $75,000 from Sinema. It also highlights her actions, such as hiring Ammel as her bodyguard after his retirement from the army and providing him with a job as a national security fellow in her Senate office. Additionally, Sinema funded Ammel's psychedelic treatment, which he received for post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, and traumatic brain injuries related to his military service in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Sinema's attorney did not respond to requests for comment, and the lawsuit was quietly filed late last year. This week, Sinema requested that the suit be moved from state court to federal court. North Carolina is one of a few states that allow former spouses to sue for 'alienation of affection' to seek damages from a third party responsible for the breakdown of their marriage. Sinema left Congress after the 2024 election and has since worked for the Washington-based legal and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells, advocating for data center development and research funding for the psychedelic drug ibogaine.
