Former Senator Sinema Admits to Affair with Security Staffer

Sinema says relationship with Matthew Ammel became "romantic and intimate" in 2024, according to court documents.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:04am

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Former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has admitted to having an affair with a member of her security detail, Matthew Ammel, in recent court documents. Sinema said their relationship became "romantic and intimate" in late May 2024, after Ammel had served as a security guard for Sinema while she was in office. Heather Ammel, Matthew's ex-wife, has filed a lawsuit alleging that Sinema deliberately interfered with their marriage by seducing her husband.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns that can arise when elected officials have intimate relationships with members of their staff. It also raises questions about the appropriate boundaries between public servants and the people they are tasked with protecting.

The details

According to court documents, Heather Ammel alleges that Sinema engaged in several questionable activities, including sending Matthew Ammel racy pictures of herself and talking about having sex. Sinema admits to the affair beginning in May 2024, but insists all communication between her and Matthew Ammel before that was professional in nature. The documents further explain that Sinema and Matthew Ammel were physically intimate in several locations between mid-June and early-October 2024.

  • In late May 2024, Sinema said her relationship with Matthew Ammel became "romantic and intimate".
  • In mid-June, mid-July, late-August, late September, and early-October 2024, Sinema and Matthew Ammel were physically intimate in various locations.
  • On October 19, 2024, Sinema, Matthew Ammel, and his wife Heather joined together at a Taylor Swift concert in Miami.

The players

Kyrsten Sinema

Former Arizona Senator who admitted to having an affair with a member of her security detail.

Matthew Ammel

A security guard who worked for Sinema while she was in office and with whom she had an affair.

Heather Ammel

Matthew Ammel's ex-wife, who has filed a lawsuit alleging that Sinema deliberately interfered with her marriage by seducing her husband.

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What they’re saying

“I keep waking up during my sleep and reaching over for your arms to hold me.”

— Kyrsten Sinema (Signal message)

“Are you having an affair with my husband? You took a married man away from his family.”

— Heather Ammel (Text message from Matthew Ammel's phone)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow the lawsuit filed by Heather Ammel to proceed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns that can arise when elected officials have intimate relationships with members of their staff, and the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries between public servants and the people they are tasked with protecting.