Judge rules former Sen. Krysten Sinema can now be sued under NC ‘homewrecker’ law

A federal judge ruled Friday that former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) can be sued under North Carolina’s homewrecker law for her romantic relationship with a married member of her security detail.

Sinema has admitted to having a relationship with Matthew Ammel in 2024, but her attorneys have argued she cannot be sued in North Carolina because she has no ties to the state.

U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon denied the former lawmaker’s request to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the security guard’s ex-wife, Heather Ammel.

Sinema sent nine text messages to Matthew Ammel while he was at his North Carolina home, which Bragdon determined gives the state jurisdiction over the case.

“These messages, considered together, show Ms. Sinema building and furthering a romantic relationship with Mr. Ammel—invading the marriage not just while he was away on trips with her but while he was home with his family in North Carolina,” the judge wrote in his order.

North Carolina is one of the select states where people can sue for “alienation of affection,” which allows spouses to seek damages from the person responsible for breaking up their marriage.

Heather Ammel sued the former senator at the end of last year, seeking at least $75,000 from Sinema.

The former Sinema security guard’s ex-wife alleged she had “a good and loving marriage” prior to the former lawmaker’s interference. The couple separated on Nov. 1, 2024.

She argued Sinema’s messages to her then-husband “exceeded the bounds of a normal working relationship and were of romantic and lascivious natures.”

The lawsuit also claimed the former lawmaker paid for Matthew Ammel’s psychedelic treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and traumatic brain injuries resulting from his military deployments.