Former US Senator Kyrsten Sinema has conceded in court filings to a romantic affair with a married man’s bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, but urges dismissal of his estranged wife Heather Ammel’s lawsuit for lack of North Carolina jurisdiction.
Heather Ammel sued Sinema in North Carolina in September 2025, alleging an affair starting in 2024 before her husband’s separation.
Sinema admits the relationship began late May 2024, with intimacy in Sonoma (May 27), New York City, Washington D.C., Aspen, and Phoenix—but none in North Carolina.
Sinema’s motion stresses no alleged acts occurred in the state; she denies sending a towel-clad photo to Ammel while in North Carolina, claiming unawareness of his location. Her team argues messages alone don’t confer jurisdiction.
The dispute now hinges on whether North Carolina courts can proceed or must dismiss for improper venue.
