A U.S. District Judge in North Carolina determined that former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema has sufficient connection to the state to be sued under its “alienation of affection” statute, which permits jilted spouses to seek financial damages from third parties blamed for the breakdown of their marriage.
Sinema had contested the lawsuit by arguing she lacked any connection to North Carolina and therefore should not be subject to the state’s jurisdiction. However, Judge David A. Bragdon rejected this argument, finding that nine text messages Sinema sent to Matthew Ammel while he was located in North Carolina established sufficient grounds for the court to exercise jurisdiction over her. The judge stated it was implausible that Sinema was unaware of Ammel’s location when she sent the messages.
The lawsuit was filed by Heather Ammel, the ex-wife of Matthew Ammel, who joined Sinema’s security team following his Army retirement. The complaint alleges that Sinema knowingly pursued Ammel despite his married status and that their relationship damaged the Ammels’ marriage, which is described in the filing as having been characterized by “genuine love and affection” before the alleged interference. According to the lawsuit, Heather Ammel discovered romantic communications between her husband and Sinema in early 2024, and the couple separated later that year.
During a deposition, Sinema acknowledged the relationship and provided details about its timeline, stating it became sexual on May 27, 2024. She indicated that subsequent encounters occurred in multiple states but not in North Carolina. The judge’s ruling allows the lawsuit to proceed, though the precise outcome remains undetermined. North Carolina is among a limited number of states that retain alienation of affection laws on their books.
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