Raleigh, North Carolina — A federal judge has ruled that former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema can be sued in North Carolina under the state’s unusual “alienation of affection” law over her admitted romantic relationship with a married member of her security detail.
The lawsuit was filed by Heather Ammel, whose former husband, Matthew Ammel, worked on Sinema’s security team and later in her Senate office and campaign. She alleges Sinema knowingly pursued him while the couple still had “a good and loving marriage.”
Sinema acknowledged in a deposition that the relationship became sexual in May 2024 during a trip to Napa, California, and continued in several other states. She argued that North Carolina courts lacked jurisdiction because the alleged sexual encounters did not occur there.
U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon rejected that argument, finding that nine text messages Sinema sent to Ammel while he was physically in North Carolina were enough to establish jurisdiction.
North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that still recognize alienation-of-affection claims, which allow a spouse to seek damages from a third party accused of helping destroy a marriage.
The ruling does not determine whether Sinema is liable. It only allows the case to move forward in North Carolina. Sinema’s attorney did not immediately comment on the decision.
Sources
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