Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema accused her ex-boyfriend and former bodyguard of damaging more than $200,000 of property at her Arizona home, telling police that Matthew Ammel tossed valuable paintings into her swimming pool, destroyed expensive bottles of alcohol and smashed a mirror.
Ammel, who was Sinema’s bodyguard when they began their relationship in the final year of her Senate term, was charged with aggravated criminal damage, according to a charging document.
According to court records, Sinema showed police video footage of Ammel ruining her art collection while she was out of town in August.
Sinema, 50, told police that Ammel, 39, demanded she post a video to her X social media account. When she refused, Ammel told her that he would damage
a painting every 10 minutes until she complied.
“Kyrsten did not post the video, and Ammel subsequently removed approximately 22 paintings from the walls and threw them into the backyard swimming pool,” the report said. An additional painting was spray-painted with black letters.
The episode comes as Ammel’s ex-wife is suing Sinema for allegedly breaking up their marriage. Heather Ammel is using North Carolina’s rare “homewrecker” law to bring the suit against Sinema, who was forced to reveal details about the coast-to-coast sexual relationship she had with her ex-employee.
The violent incident at Sinema's Cave Creek, Arizona, home happened in the same month that she and Heather Ammel each appeared in a North Carolina courtroom on Aug. 19 to provide testimony about the affair.
When police came to Sinema’s home to assess the damage on Sept. 3, they noticed paintings floating in the pool. Sinema told them the value of the damaged paintings was $123,015.
Ammel was accused of smashing a wall-mounted mirror with a glass bottle. He broke several expensive alcohol bottles in her house, Sinema said, leaving broken glass in her home and swimming pool. The total cost of the damage was more than $200,000, according to police.
Police noted the shattered mirror during their investigation. When they reviewed surveillance footage and other video, they identified Ammel as the person damaging the property.
Sinema did not respond to requests for comment by The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Ammel was charged Sept. 17. Police picked him up from a behavioral health facility, where he had been mental health petitioned, according to a court document. He was released with an ankle monitor and curfew restrictions, according to a video of courtroom proceedings.
The judge prohibited Ammel from returning to the scene of the alleged crime or contacting Sinema.
Ammel was appointed a public defender. His case will return to Maricopa County Superior Court on Oct. 1 for a status conference.
Reached via email, Ammel said he had comments on the situation but was weighing how to proceed.
"I’ve never done this before," Ammel said. "Let me ask my lawyer."
Ammel is a university fellow in Arizona State University’s Office of University Affairs. Sinema also works at the school as a distinguished professor of practice in the School of Social Work, according to a university biography page.
A university spokesperson said Ammel's role is coming to an end next month.
"Matt Ammel is currently winding down a fellowship with ASU which will end on October 31. That work has been to support a Department of War investment in ASU for training veterans in alternative farming practices and providing opportunities for employment to veterans," ASU spokesperson Jerry Gonzalez said in an email.
The North Carolina man has faced legal troubles in the past. Ammel was charged with felony assault in his home state in 2025, following an attack on a medical worker who told him he could not leave because of an involuntary commitment relating to erratic behavior and threats.(This story was updated to include a new video.)
Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She co-hosts “The Gaggle,” The Republic’s weekly politics podcast. Reach her at stephanie.murray@usatodayco.com, on X and TikTok @stephanie_murr and on Instagram @stephaniemurray.news.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man in Kyrsten Sinema 'homewrecker' suit accused of trashing her home
