Who Is Heather Ammel? Meet Kyrsten Sinema's Bodyguard's Ex-Wife Amid USD 75K Lawsuit Over Affair
Kyrsten Sinema's bodyguard's ex-wife, Heather Ammel, is seeking more than USD 75K in damages, claiming the former Arizona senator's sexual relationship wrecked her 14-year marriage.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleFormer Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has been under the microscope for a while now, especially after her alleged amorous escapades with her former bodyguard Matthew Ammel were made public earlier this year. The revelations emerged in the legal battle brought by Ammel's ex-wife, Heather Ammel, who is suing Sinema under North Carolina's rare alienation of affection law.
Heather is seeking more than USD 75,000 in damages, alleging Sinema intentionally interfered with her 14-year marriage. Sinema herself has provided a detailed accounting of her relationship with Ammel, admitting in a July 31, 2026 deposition that he had sex with her multiple times while he was still married to Heather.
Who is Heather Ammel, and why is she suing Kyrsten Sinema for over USD 75K?
Heather Ammel is the former wife of Matthew Ammel, a former Army Green Beret who later worked in private security and joined Sinema's security detail. Unlike Sinema, Heather has largely stayed out of the public spotlight. According to court filings, she lived in North Carolina with Matthew and their three children during their marriage.
Heather and Matthew reportedly married in 2010 and were together for roughly 14 years. They share three children: daughters Clara and Isla and son James. Court documents describe Heather as a mother who was heavily involved in raising their children while Matthew pursued his military and later security career.
Their marriage began to unravel in 2024, around the same period Matthew was working closely with Sinema.
But how did Heather find out about her husband's affair? Her account forms a central part of the lawsuit. In her deposition, she described Matthew as an “established liar and manipulator” and said she believed he had been manipulating both her and Sinema.
Heather also recalled discovering romantic messages between Matthew and Sinema. One message attributed to Sinema told Matthew: "I hope your day was okay. Thinking of you. I am with you. I keep waking up during my sleep and reaching over for your arms to hold me."
This discovery seems to have heightened the tensions between Heather and Matthew. In June 2024, Heather allegedly referred to Sinema as an “insidious” woman who was “willing to break up a family” in a message to her husband.
In January 2026, Heather sued Sinema in court under North Carolina’s alienation of affection law, also known as the “homewrecker” statute. The unusual civil law allows a spouse to sue a third party accused of intentionally interfering with a marriage and contributing to the loss of marital affection.
Heather alleges that Sinema knowingly pursued Matthew while he was married and that the relationship contributed to the breakdown of their family. She and Matthew separated on Nov. 1, 2024, according to court records. Their divorce was finalized in March 2026. Heather is now seeking more than USD 75,000 in damages.
Sinema's texts to Matthew come under scrutiny
Sinema has acknowledged that she had a romantic and sexual relationship with Matthew. However, her attorneys argue that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the encounters took place outside North Carolina.
During questioning, Sinema was asked about messages she allegedly sent to Matthew, including one that read: "Putting my hand on your heart. I'll see you soon. I miss you." When an attorney asked whether she understood why a wife might be concerned about such a message being sent to her husband, Sinema answered, "Yes."
According to Sinema's deposition, the relationship became physical in Napa, California, around Memorial Day 2024. She later described encounters in New York City, Washington, D.C., Aspen, and Phoenix.
The legal fight is still ongoing. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for August 19, 2026.
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