Kyrsten Sinema’s former campaign committee reported nearly $9,000 in October payroll payments to Matthew J. Ammel, a security guard who is named in court filings alleging an affair. FEC records show Ammel received more than $128,000 from Sinema-linked accounts between July 2024 and October 2025. The Sinema for Arizona committee has been wound down after reporting substantial, sometimes unconventional, expenses and issuing nearly $600,000 in refunds late last year. A separate lawsuit by Ammel’s estranged wife alleges Sinema interfered in the marriage and financed psychedelic treatments; those claims are pending in court.
FEC Filings: Sinema’s Committee Paid Nearly $9,000 To Security Guard Named In Alleged Affair Lawsuit
Kyrsten Sinema questions witnesses during a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 28 March 2023.Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP(Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)
New Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show that Sinema for Arizona paid nearly $9,000 in two October payroll deposits to Matthew J. Ammel, a security guard who is named in court papers alleging an affair with former senator Kyrsten Sinema.
Payments Reported
The filing submitted by Sinema for Arizona, first noted by Notus, lists two payroll payments to Matthew J. Ammel: $1,815.91 on Oct. 15 and $7,136.14 on Oct. 31. Those payments were reported as payroll in the committee’s disclosures.
Broader Financial Picture
FEC records reviewed by reporters indicate Ammel received more than $128,000 from Sinema-linked accounts between July 2024 and October 2025, including payments from Sinema for Arizona and a separate political action committee associated with the former senator. The filing also states that Sinema has formally wound down the Sinema for Arizona committee.
The committee’s late activity included hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenditures that appear unrelated to traditional campaign work, such as amounts described as “health services” for security staff, airline tickets, meals, lodging, and event and concert tickets. Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 the committee refunded nearly $600,000 to donors and reported roughly $200,000 in other costs, including salaries and airfare.
Lawsuit Allegations
Separately, a North Carolina lawsuit filed by Heather Ammel, the estranged wife of Matthew Ammel, accuses Sinema of interfering in their marriage. The complaint alleges Sinema purchased gifts and concert tickets for Matthew Ammel and encouraged his use of drugs, including providing support for psychedelic treatments she allegedly financed. The suit says the couple had “a good and loving marriage” before the alleged interference.
Allegation: Heather Ammel contends Sinema pursued Matthew Ammel despite knowing he was married and that her actions damaged their marriage. These claims are made in a civil complaint and have not been adjudicated.
Background And Context
The complaint says Ammel was hired by Sinema’s head of security after he left the U.S. Army in 2022 and that he traveled with Sinema to locations including Napa Valley, Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia. Sinema left the Senate following the 2024 election and later left the Democratic Party to serve as an independent. She now works at the Washington law and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells; public disclosures show she has lobbied on issues including data-center development and research funding related to the psychedelic drug ibogaine.
Note: The payments and the lawsuit are part of ongoing reporting and litigation. Allegations in the lawsuit remain unproven unless established in court.
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