Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona is being sued in federal court by a North Carolina woman under one of the nation’s few remaining “alienation of affection” statutes, a rarely used and often controversial cause of action.
The lawsuit alleges Sinema had an extramarital affair with a married member of her Senate security detail and that the relationship contributed to the breakdown of the plaintiff’s marriage.
Allegations of an extramarital relationship
The plaintiff, Heather Ammel of Raeford, North Carolina, filed the complaint against Sinema, alleging that Sinema engaged in a romantic and sexual relationship with her husband, Matthew Ammel, who served as a security guard on Sinema’s Senate staff.
According to the complaint, Sinema allegedly pursued Ammel with personal gifts and intimate messages and spent time getting “handsy” with him at concerts and on trips. The filing describes messages allegedly sent by Sinema as “romantic and lascivious in nature.”
Claims involving drugs and travel
The lawsuit further alleges Sinema suggested that Ammel bring illicit drugs on a work-related trip so she could “guide him through a psychedelic experience.” The complaint also claims Sinema later paid for Ammel’s psychedelic treatment, which the plaintiff argues went well beyond any professional or appropriate personal relationship.
Heather Ammel alleges that the affair destroyed her marriage and caused lasting emotional and financial harm. The couple officially separated in November 2024.
A rare and controversial legal claim
Alienation of affection lawsuits are permitted in only a handful of states, including North Carolina. The claims allow a spouse to sue a third party for intentionally interfering with a marriage, but they are uncommon and frequently criticized as outdated.
To prevail, a plaintiff must generally show that genuine marital affection existed, that the affection was alienated, and that the defendant’s conduct was a controlling cause of the loss.
Case moved to federal court
The lawsuit was originally filed in Moore County Superior Court but was recently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The move was based on diversity jurisdiction, as Sinema resides in Arizona.
Sinema served as a U.S. senator from Arizona from 2019 through 2025. She left the Democratic Party in 2022 and served the remainder of her term as an independent.
Attorneys for Sinema have not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
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