A federal judge in North Carolina ruled that a so-called ‘homewrecker lawsuit’ brought against former Senator Kyrsten Sinema by the ex-wife of her boyfriend, and former bodyguard, can proceed to a trial.
It’s a major blow for the former lawmaker and a development that could force her to shell out tens of thousands of dollars in damages.
At issue in the case was Sinema’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed against her by Heather Ammel, the ex-wife of Sinema’s former bodyguard-turned-boyfriend, Matthew Ammel.
Sinema and Matthew Ammel began having an affair in 2024, while he was still on Sinema’s payroll, as a bodyguard, and still living with his wife and children in North Carolina. Heather sued Sinema under an ‘alienation of affection’ law, a rare, 19th century tort still on the books in just a handful of US states.
The decision from US District Judge David Bragdon comes weeks after Heather Ammel and Sinema testified in person at an evidentiary hearing last month, and will kick off a civil trial to be held at a future date.
‘The evidence demonstrates that although the relationship between Mr. and Ms. Ammel was turbulent in 2024, there was still genuine love and affection between them, as reflected in their text messages’ and other encounters, the judge said in his order. Bragdon also noted the absence of Matthew Ammel, the only party who did not appear in court in person for the hearing.
The evidentiary hearing heavily featured testimony from Heather and Sinema, who detailed the timelines, locations, and tawdry details of the affair, including how much Sinema knew about Matthew’s marriage, and when.
Former Senator Kyrsten Sinema exits the Hiram H. Ward Federal Building United States Courthouse in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Heather Ammel exits the Hiram H. Ward Federal Building United States Courthouse on Aug. 19, 2026, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Ammel is suing Sinema for tens of thousands in damages for ‘destroying’ her marriage
Heather Ammel told the court last month that Sinema seized on Ammel at a vulnerable time in his life, shortly after he retired from the US Army in 2022.
Matthew took the job, Heather testified, to find a sense of purpose following his retirement, and to secure a stable income to provide for their family and children.
Within months, however, she told the court that dynamic with his new employer began to change.
Heather described the shift in her husband’s behavior more than once as the result of what she said were ‘grooming’ behaviors by then-Senator Sinema.
‘I felt completely powerless,’ Heather told the court, and Sinema, by extension, who was watching carefully just several feet away.
‘It was me against a sitting senator with power, and money … she had her hooks in him,’ Heather said.
Sinema also spoke at length about the timeline and nature of her relationship with Matthew, which she says began in May 2024, after he pursued her during a trip to Napa Valley.
‘He approached me … and we had sex,’ she told the court, choosing her words carefully.
Sinema dismissed the romantic encounter as a one off, telling her lawyer: ‘I’m not like that.’
The Hiram H. Ward Federal Building United States Courthouse in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Then-Senator Kyrsten Sinema arrives for a closed briefing in the US Capitol
The two allegedly continued seeing each other in a sexual manner in the months that followed, as she has previously acknowledged, and remain in a relationship to this date.
The update from the federal judge is significant, and clears the way for parties to begin discovery and prepare for civil trial.
The judge separately expressed concerns about the veracity of the statements given by Heather’s ex-husband, Matthew Ammel, observing in a footnote that his depositions to the court contain ‘multiple statements that conflict with his previous deposition and Ms. Sinema’s deposition.’
‘Mr. Ammel did not testify at the hearing and does not have a record of telling the truth in this matter,’ the judge added.
‘Therefore, the Court finds Ms. Ammel more credible than Mr. Ammel.’
Heather Ammel could profit handsomely from the trial. She’s seeking $75,000 in compensatory damages, though Tar Heel State juries have been famously sympathetic in tortious interference cases in recent years – often awarding compensatory and punitive damages into the millions.
