A federal judge has ruled that former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema can be sued in North Carolina under the state's alienation of affection law, commonly referred to as the "homewrecker" law. The ruling allows Heather Ammel to proceed with her lawsuit alleging that Sinema's affair with her husband, Matthew Ammel, led to the breakdown of their marriage.
U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon denied Sinema's motion to dismiss the case, finding that she had sufficient connection to North Carolina to be subject to its jurisdiction. Sinema had argued that she lacked a meaningful connection to the state, but the judge cited her awareness of Matthew Ammel's residency in North Carolina with his wife and three children. The judge also noted that Heather Ammel discovered the affair in early 2024 after reading messages between Sinema and her then-husband that were sent while he was in North Carolina. Bragdon determined these communications were sufficient grounds for the lawsuit to move forward in the state.
Heather Ammel is seeking damages from Sinema, claiming the former lawmaker interfered with her marriage. North Carolina is one of a few states that permits alienation of affection claims, allowing spouses to seek compensation from a third party accused of causing marital discord.
According to the lawsuit, Matthew Ammel joined Sinema's security team in 2022 after retiring from the U.S. Army and began traveling with her. Sinema, who is unmarried, testified in a July 31 deposition that she first engaged in sexual activity with Ammel around Memorial Day 2024, at an Airbnb in Napa, California. She also stated in her deposition that they had sexual encounters in New York, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona, but never in North Carolina.
The lawsuit further alleges that Matthew Ammel stopped wearing his wedding ring during the summer of 2024 and was subsequently given a position as a national security fellow in Sinema's Senate office. The Ammels separated on November 1, 2024, and their divorce was finalized in March 2026, according to court records. Sinema represented Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives and later in the Senate before retiring in 2026.