A U.S. District Court in Raleigh has denied former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s motion to dismiss a civil suit filed by Heather Ammel, who alleges Sinema interfered with her marriage. The judge found that Sinema’s conduct, including a series of text messages to Ammel while he was living in North Carolina, satisfies the state’s “homewrecker” or alienation‑of‑affection law.
Background of the case
According to the complaint, Sinema began a sexual relationship with Matthew Ammel, a member of her security detail, in 2022. Ammel was married to Heather Ammel and had three children living in North Carolina. The couple’s marriage reportedly began to deteriorate after Ammel started traveling with Sinema on domestic and international trips, eventually abandoning his wedding ring and taking a position as a national security fellow in Sinema’s Senate office.
Heather Ammel discovered the affair in early 2024 after reading nine text messages that Sinema sent to her husband while he was in North Carolina. Those messages, the plaintiff argues, constitute the “alienation‑of‑affection” conduct that North Carolina law permits a spouse to sue over.
Judge’s ruling
U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon rejected Sinema’s argument that she lacked a meaningful connection to North Carolina. He noted that Sinema knew Ammel lived in the state with his wife and children, and that the messages were sent while Ammel was physically present in North Carolina. The judge concluded that the plaintiff’s claim is sufficient to allow the case to proceed in state court.
In his written opinion, Judge Bragdon emphasized that the communications demonstrated Sinema was “furthering a romantic relationship” with Ammel and “invading” his marriage both during trips and while he was at home. The ruling does not determine liability; it merely permits the lawsuit to move forward.
Legal context
North Carolina is one of the few states that still recognize alienation‑of‑affection claims, allowing a spouse to seek monetary damages from a third party alleged to have caused the breakdown of a marriage. Critics of the law argue it is outdated, while supporters claim it protects the sanctity of marriage and family.
Sinema’s response
Sinema, who is unmarried, acknowledged in a July 31 deposition that she first had sexual relations with Ammel around Memorial Day 2024. She described a private encounter at an Airbnb in Napa, California, and later admitted to additional encounters in New York, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona, but denied any sexual activity in North Carolina.
Sinema’s attorneys, Steven Epstein and Abigail Jenkins, have not provided comment on the ruling.
Implications
The case highlights the ongoing relevance of alienation‑of‑affection statutes in a few states and raises questions about the reach of state courts over actions taken by public officials outside their home states. It also underscores the personal conduct scrutiny that former lawmakers can face long after leaving office.
Heather Ammel’s lawsuit seeks damages for the alleged interference with what she described as a “good and loving marriage.” The divorce between the Ammels was finalized in March 2026, but the civil claim remains active.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
