Former Senator's Campaign Committee Made Payments to Security Guard
Newly filed Federal Election Commission documents have revealed that former US Senator Kyrsten Sinema's campaign committee made payments totalling nearly $9,000 to a former security guard who has been identified in court filings as having an affair with the Arizona lawmaker. The financial disclosures come just weeks after the man's estranged wife filed a lawsuit accusing Sinema of wrecking their marriage through alleged interference.
Details of the Financial Transactions
According to a report from Notus citing the FEC filing submitted on Saturday, the recipient was Matthew J Ammel, who previously worked as part of Sinema's security detail. The document shows two specific payments made in October: $1,815.91 on 15 October and $7,136.14 on 31 October, both listed as "payroll" expenses. These transactions were processed through Sinema for Arizona, the former senator's campaign committee.
FEC records indicate that between July 2024 and October 2025, Ammel received a total exceeding $128,000 from Sinema for Arizona and a separate political action committee connected to the former senator. The substantial payments raise questions about the nature of the financial relationship between the former politician and her former security employee.
Campaign Committee Closure and Spending Patterns
The recent filing also confirms that Sinema has formally shut down her Sinema for Arizona committee, which reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars last year on expenses that appeared largely unrelated to traditional campaign activities. Among these expenditures were "health services" for members of her security team, along with airline tickets, meals, lodging, and concert and event tickets.
Notably, this spending occurred after Sinema left office in January 2025 and followed other unusual late-term expenses that had previously drawn scrutiny. These included hotel stays in Saudi Arabia and purchases from Taylor Swift's official merchandise store, adding to concerns about appropriate use of campaign funds during her final months in office.
Between 1 October and 31 December, the committee refunded nearly $600,000 to donors while spending close to $200,000 on other costs including salaries and airfare. The timing and nature of these financial activities have prompted renewed examination of campaign finance practices.
Legal Allegations and Relationship Details
In a lawsuit filed in North Carolina, Heather Ammel, Matthew Ammel's estranged wife, has accused Sinema of damaging her marriage through alleged interference. The legal complaint alleges that Sinema purchased gifts and concert tickets for Matthew Ammel and encouraged his drug use, including supporting psychedelic treatments that she allegedly financed.
Heather Ammel claims in her lawsuit that she and Matthew had "a good and loving marriage" characterised by "genuine love and affection" before Sinema's alleged interference began. The suit further alleges that Sinema pursued Matthew Ammel despite knowing he was married, creating significant strain on the marital relationship.
Background and Career Transition
According to the lawsuit, Sinema's head of security hired Matthew Ammel after he retired from the army in 2022. During his employment, he reportedly accompanied the senator on travels to various destinations including Napa Valley, California; Las Vegas; and Saudi Arabia, providing security services during these trips.
Sinema left Congress following the 2024 election, choosing not to seek re-election to the Senate after a tumultuous single term during which she alienated many liberal supporters and left the Democratic party to become an independent. Her political career was marked by significant controversy and shifting political alliances that ultimately contributed to her decision to depart from elected office.
The former senator has since transitioned to a position with the Washington-based legal and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells. In her current role, she has reportedly lobbied for datacenter development and research funding for the psychedelic drug ibogaine, continuing her involvement in policy areas that attracted attention during her Senate tenure.
