The former bodyguard and ex-boyfriend of former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has been arrested after allegedly breaking into her home and causing around $200,000 in damage while she was away.
According to NBC, Maricopa County charging documents say Matthew Ammel, 39, is accused of entering Sinema’s private residence and destroying valuable property during an incident that investigators say was tied to a demand he made of the former senator.
The incident reportedly involved the destruction of 22 pieces of artwork, with Ammel allegedly using the paintings as part of an attempt to pressure Sinema into posting a specific video on her social media account.
This is the latest twist in a complex legal conundrum
The incident happened on Aug. 30, 2025, while Sinema was traveling out of town. Investigators say Ammel contacted Sinema from inside her home and demanded that she immediately upload a particular video to her personal X account.
According to the probable cause statement, Ammel warned Sinema that if she refused, he would destroy one painting inside the home every 10 minutes.
Sinema refused and contacted law enforcement.
Ammel allegedly followed through on the threat, tearing around 22 paintings from the walls and throwing them into the home’s outdoor swimming pool. The artwork was reportedly damaged or destroyed as a result.
A police probable cause statement also says one painting was defaced with black spray-painted lettering and left near the front entrance of the residence. Sinema also reported finding piles of broken glass from expensive alcohol bottles throughout the house and at the bottom of the swimming pool.
The alleged break-in adds another messy chapter to the relationship between Sinema and her former aide, who had previously worked closely with her both in and outside of Congress.
Ammel, a retired Army veteran who left active service in 2022, initially joined Sinema’s personal security team as a bodyguard. He traveled with her on domestic and international congressional trips before later moving into a civilian position as a national security fellow in her Senate office.
His arrest comes as Ammel is also involved in a separate civil lawsuit in North Carolina involving his former marriage and his relationship with Sinema.
Sinema can also be sued under North Carolina’s “home-wrecker” law
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon ruled that Sinema can be sued under North Carolina’s “home-wrecker” law, formally known as alienation of affection. The lawsuit was filed by Ammel’s ex-wife, who alleges that Sinema knowingly pursued a romantic relationship with Ammel while he was married, eventually contributing to the breakdown of their marriage.
Sinema had argued that North Carolina did not have jurisdiction over her. However, the judge allowed the case to proceed based in part on text messages she allegedly sent to Ammel while he was physically in North Carolina.
The criminal case and civil lawsuit are separate matters, but both have put a spotlight on the former relationship between Sinema and Ammel. What began as a professional relationship between a senator and her bodyguard has now spilled into both criminal and civil court proceedings.
