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According to the motion, nearly all communication between Sinema and Ammel happened while both were out of state. The filing further claims that Ammel was only in North Carolina in October 2024 — after he had already left the marital home — and that any contact at that time was minimal.
The lawsuit presents a different story. It alleges that the relationship first impacted Ammel’s marriage during a December 2023 trip to Las Vegas. Sinema allegedly asked Ammel to act as her “security” so she could attend a U2 concert at the Sphere. The complaint states Ammel invited his wife along, framing it as a “gift,” but afterward the pair went out for drinks.
Court documents claim that following the trip, Sinema and Ammel communicated more frequently via Signal, an encrypted messaging app. The filings assert the messages “exceeded the bounds of a normal working relationship and were of romantic and lascivious natures.”
The complaint goes further, alleging that Sinema instructed Ammel to “bring MDMA drugs on a work trip” so she could “guide him through a psychedelic experience.” Other incidents mentioned include a festival trip where Sinema allegedly became “handsy,” as well as visits to San Francisco, Napa Valley, and a Taylor Swift concert.
Ammel’s ex-wife is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, claiming Sinema’s behavior was “wrongful and malicious” and directly responsible for destroying her marriage. Court filings also state that Sinema and Ammel remain “engaged in a romantic and sexual relationship.”
Employment records cited in the lawsuit show Ammel was initially hired through Sinema’s campaign account. By mid-2024, while Sinema was still in the Senate, he had been placed on her official Senate payroll as a staff member.
Sinema did not run for reelection in 2024 after a turbulent single term marked by her break with progressives and departure from the Democratic Party to register as an independent. Since leaving Congress, she has worked at the Washington-based law and lobbying firm Hogan Lovells, focusing on projects including data center development and research funding for the psychedelic drug ibogaine.
North Carolina is one of the few states that still recognizes alienation of affection claims, a legal avenue often criticized as outdated but defended by supporters who argue it protects the sanctity of marriage. While the state’s courts have occasionally awarded substantial judgments, defendants frequently challenge jurisdiction or venue.
The court has not yet ruled on Sinema’s motion to dismiss. If the judge agrees that North Carolina lacks authority, the case could be dismissed entirely or refiled in another state. Until a ruling is issued, the lawsuit remains a high-profile legal and political challenge for the former senator.
