Sinema Admits Affair in Lawsuit Filing

Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, 49, admitted to an affair with her bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, 39, in court filings on March 13, 2026, as part of a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Ammel's estranged wife. Sinema argued that a North Carolina court lacks jurisdiction over the case, stating their relationship occurred exclusively outside the state.

Sinema's court documents indicate she became "romantic and intimate" with Ammel in Sonoma, California, in May 2024, two months after she announced she would not seek re-election. The physical relationship reportedly spanned Arizona, California, New York, and Washington, D.C., but not North Carolina. Ammel's separation from his wife occurred approximately five months after the affair began.

The lawsuit from Ammel's ex-wife alleges Sinema initiated contact in December 2023 and subsequently sent provocative messages and photos. Campaign finance records show Sinema spent $1,610.75 on "gifts" at "The Official Store of Taylor Swift" and $572.67 at Three Sticks Wines in Sonoma, California, labeled as a "meeting expense" in October 2024.

Additionally, Sinema's campaign spent $241,000 on security-related expenses between October 1 and December 31, 2024, and $616 on "security detail ski tickets" in Aspen, Colorado, between March 31 and June 30, 2025, after leaving office.