NC Court Affirms Jurisdiction Over Alienation Suit vs. Ex-Senator Sinema
A North Carolina court will hear an alienation of affection claim against ex-Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
Why it matters: This rare application of alienation of affection law targets a high-profile political figure, highlighting tort law's reach into personal relationships and its interplay with public personalities.
- U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon ruled on Sept. 4, 2026, that NC has jurisdiction over the lawsuit.
- The claim involves Heather Ammel suing Sinema over her relationship with ex-husband Matthew Ammel, a former Senate staffer.
- Sinema admitted their sexual relationship began May 27, 2024, in Napa, California.
- Judge Bragdon cited nine text messages Sinema sent to Ammel while he was in NC as grounds for jurisdiction.
On September 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon confirmed that a North Carolina court has jurisdiction to hear an alienation of affection lawsuit against former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema. This lawsuit, filed by Heather Ammel—the ex-wife of Matthew Ammel, a former Army officer and Sinema’s former security and campaign staffer—alleges that Sinema’s actions led to the breakdown of their marriage.
North Carolina is among the few states that still recognize alienation of affection claims, allowing spouses to seek damages from third parties deemed responsible for marital disruption. Sinema’s legal team sought dismissal, arguing she did not purposefully direct any conduct into North Carolina. However, Judge Bragdon found that nine text messages Sinema sent to Ammel while he was physically in North Carolina provided sufficient basis for the court to assert jurisdiction.
Sinema admitted in a deposition that her relationship with Ammel became sexual during a May 27, 2024 trip to Napa, California. The Ammels separated on November 1, 2024. While the relationship continued in various states—including New York, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona—no sexual relations reportedly occurred in North Carolina.
Sinema’s attorney, Steven Epstein, maintained that the relationship and any relevant conduct all occurred outside North Carolina and thus the federal court lacks personal jurisdiction. Judge Bragdon disagreed, emphasizing it was “implausible that she was unaware of Ammel’s whereabouts when she texted him.”
The lawsuit was initially filed in Moore County Superior Court in September 2025, before being moved to federal court in January 2026. The case underscores the unusual intersection of a rarely used tort claim with the personal conduct of a prominent political figure, raising questions about how such laws apply to public personalities in modern legal practice.
By the numbers:
- 9 text messages — basis for NC court jurisdiction
- May 27, 2024 — date Sinema's relationship with Ammel became sexual
- November 1, 2024 — Ammels separated
- September 2025 — lawsuit filed
- January 2026 — case moved to federal court
Yes, but: While the court granted jurisdiction, Sinema's legal team continues to contest liability and jurisdiction, indicating the case is far from resolved.
What's next: Further proceedings will address the merits of the alienation of affection claim and whether Sinema is liable under North Carolina law.