Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s onetime bodyguard and partner was arrested and charged with breaking into her Arizona home and causing roughly $200,000 in damage.
Matthew Ammel allegedly contacted Sinema on Aug. 30 while she was away from her home and demanded that she post a video to her X account. When Sinema refused, Ammel allegedly threatened to destroy one of her paintings every 10 minutes, according to a police report.
The threat quickly turned into a destructive spree, investigators said.
According to the report, Ammel allegedly removed about 22 paintings from the walls and threw them into Sinema’s swimming pool. Another painting near the home’s entrance was allegedly spray-painted with black lettering.
Ammel also allegedly smashed several expensive alcohol bottles inside the residence, scattering broken glass throughout the home and pool. He allegedly threw a glass bottle at a large wall-mounted mirror, shattering it.
Deputies responding to the scene documented the damage and found multiple paintings at the bottom of the pool or floating on its surface, as well as paintings marked with black lettering.
Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from cameras around the residence and were able to identify Ammel destroying Sinema’s property, according to the report. Sinema also told deputies that she had text messages and videos documenting the destruction.
Based on Sinema’s statements, the physical evidence, and the reported value of the damaged property, deputies determined they had probable cause to believe Ammel intentionally damaged property without her permission, according to the report.
Ammel was arrested after being released from the hospital and booked at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest comes after a separate legal battle involving Ammel’s former marriage.
Sinema acknowledged having an extramarital romantic relationship with Ammel in a motion seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by his ex-wife, Heather Ammel. The relationship began in May 2024 while Sinema was still in the Senate and Ammel was married, according to court filings. The Ammels separated roughly five months later.
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Heather Ammel sued Sinema in North Carolina last year under the state’s “alienation of affection” law, which allows a spouse to seek damages from a third party alleged to have intentionally interfered with and destroyed a marriage.
Earlier this month, a North Carolina judge ruled that Sinema could be sued under the law over her relationship with Ammel. North Carolina is among a small number of states that still allow so-called alienation-of-affection lawsuits. The law allows a spouse to pursue damages against a third party alleged to have contributed to the breakdown of the marriage.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
