I'm reading "'We went inside and had sex.' Sinema details affair with bodyguard" (The Arizona Republic).
Presumably, Ms. Ammel's argument is that the thing Sinema wrecked, the marriage, was located in North Carolina.
August 17, 2026
"Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona is being sued in North Carolina under the state's 'homewrecker' law."
"Sinema admitted in a deposition to having a sexual relationship with her then-married former bodyguard. Sinema argues the affair did not happen in North Carolina, so she shouldn't be sued in that state. The lawsuit was filed by Heather Ammel, the ex-wife of Sinema's former bodyguard Matthew Ammel...."
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60 comments:
If she's been deposed, may we assume the jurisdiction or venue issues have been resolved?
I haven't read North Carolina's "homewrecker" legislation; I see has been challenged under a denial of the right to privacy. A trial judge ruled it was a denial, but was overturned by an N.C. appellate court.
@Wilbur No. The jurisdiction motion is pending and discovery relating to that question has been permitted by the judge. This is a problem when the theory of jurisdiction is seen to be dependent on facts.
Thank you, AA.
Huh. There are five states that still have this type of law. From Grok,
North Carolina is by far the most active jurisdiction. It has a specific statute (G.S. 52-13) covering both alienation of affection and criminal conversation, a three-year statute of limitations from the last wrongful act, and a rule that claims generally cannot be based on conduct after the spouses have physically separated with intent to remain apart. It has produced large verdicts (including multimillion-dollar awards).
Multimillion….
“This is a problem when the theory of jurisdiction is seen to be dependent on facts.“
Sorry, I’m confused. Aren’t all jurisdictional questions dependent on some facts of the case?
If there were children in the family that got "wrecked" then all adults involved need to lose and all of the money should go to a trust for them.
If there were no children involved this is dumb.
This still continues? Some people are digging for gold.
When life gives you lemons, dig through the history books in search of a free lemonade law.
As I read this article in The Carolina Journal (but IANAL) Heather Ammel's lawyers are basing a lot of the claim of tortious conduct on Matthew Ammel receiving text messages and other communications while he was in the North Carolina residence he established with his then wife Heather. Sinema's lawyers appear to be arguing that because they can show Matthew Ammel was not actually in North Carolina when those messages and texts were received, North Carolina should not have jurisdiction even though both Ammels were residents of North Carolina at the time.
Aliso, the marriage travels with the spouse. If you were married in NE and move to WI, you are still married.
I’m not married. I would 100% have an affair with her; then or now. Totally hot and with a great fashion sense.
“There’s nothing on this Earth sexier than - and believe me gentlemen - a woman you have to salute in the morning. Promote them all I say. Heck, elect them to the Senate. If you haven’t gotten a blow job from a United States Senator, well, you are letting the best in life pass you by.”
"Kyrsten Lea Sinema is an American politician, lawyer, and former social worker..."
She's been at work on American society for quite awhile.
I did cntr+f with child.
“It is untrue, as Plaintiff alleges in paragraph 55 of her Complaint, that ‘[m]any of the communications’ referenced in her Complaint ‘occurred while Mr. Ammel was in the marital residence in Moore County, North Carolina with Plaintiff and the Children,’” Sinema added.
Sinema knew there were children.
I don't mind if Sinema and her boyfriend get sued into abject poverty.
The affair was a terrible decision on Sinema’s part. Still, I’ve wondered who is financing or encouraging the effort against her. Pushing her off the political stage as an influential Democrat could certainly benefit mainstream Democrats.
Was John Edwards the inspiration for that law?
Senator, “We went inside and had sex.”
Lawyer, “Then what happened?”
Senator, “He saluted me as I outrank him.”
"Sorry, I’m confused. Aren’t all jurisdictional questions dependent on some facts of the case?"
What are you supposed to do if a question of fact needs to be resolved at the threshold? I think making the person litigate in the place where they are saying they have insufficient contacts feels like a violation of due process, but what are you supposed to do. Years ago I worked on a case where a defendant was said to have contact with a state via another defendant, using conspiracy theory, but was there a conspiracy? That was a factual question at the heart of the case.
Some facts are not in dispute, so there isn't a factual question that justifies discovery.
It seems half the marriage was wherever Sinema happened to be.
Why aren't other women spilling oil drums of venom for Senator Cinnamon? Home wrecker sure looks like great gig if you can swing it…
…with the success of the Commies Sinema- D seems like the least of their problems…
" Sinema's lawyers appear to be arguing that because they can show Matthew Ammel was not actually in North Carolina when those messages and texts were received, North Carolina should not have jurisdiction even though both Ammels were residents of North Carolina at the time."
It seems to me that the victim was in North Carolina when she was being harmed by Sinema, so Sinema purposefully directed her actions at North Carolina. Also the marriage was located there, the married couple was domiciled there.
A homewrecker law seems pretty dubious (has any court upheld it?), but not as dubious as filing in a state where it did not happen.
As a politician she seemed to be an honest one and a principled one. She landed positions after her stint as a senator that gave her an estimated million dollars a year. So maybe her honesty and principles weren’t true as well.
I assume this is in Federal Court via diversity jurisdiction. Geez, I haven't thought about such things in many a year.
For our non-lawyer friends here, a plaintiff may sue someone from another state on a state claim in Federal court if:
There is complete diversity, i.e., every plaintiff must come from a different state than every defendant. If even one plaintiff and one defendant share a state, diversity is lost.
The amount in controversy, i.e., the money or value at stake must be strictly more than $75,000, not counting interest and court costs.
Citizenship is judged on the exact day the lawsuit is first filed.
I remember a lot of cases in law school where defendants would claim they were unfairly having to defend a lawsuit in a state where they were not in, claiming a lack of due process.
If you want to get into legal topics like long arm jurisdiction and sufficient contacts to establish a presence in a state, you can read to your heart's content.
slut.
Sneakin' down your alley way
And knockin' on your door
Thought I had enough but I'm back for more
Sinema let me in
Sinema let me in
Knock, knock, let me in
I won't go away (Oh, uh, uh)
Gonna fill yo ‘buster
it’ll take all day (Oh, uh uh)
Sinema let me in
Sinema let me in
Sha la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha la, la, la, la, la, la
One potato, two potato
Three potato, four
On yo desk, Sinema, I want more
Five potato, six potato
Seven potato, eight
Sock it to me, Sinema, I can't wait
h/t Tommy Roe
...'text messages that she sent to Matthew Ammel, including a picture of Sinema in a towel. She said that the photo was “about sports” because she is an endurance athlete and the photo was of her cupping marks...'
Oh, brother.
I don't think anybody disputes the location of the marriage or residence of the Ammels, though upon reading a little closer in the Carolina Journal article Sinema's lawyers claim the only message Matthew Ammel received from her when he was in NC was after he vacated their residence upon request from Heather Ammel. The question being raised is whether that is sufficient to establish that NC has jurisdiction over Kyrsten Sinema's conduct given that she didn't physically interact with Matthew Ammel there. Reading a bit between the lines it appears to me, as I noted in my original comment, that even Heather Ammel's lawyers are basing a lot of their argument on the location where the communication was received.
Hypothetically, if a spouse becomes aware their partner is carrying on an affair while in North Carolina would they be able to sue under NC law even if they aren't residents? That seems to be the contention.
Sinema”s replacement is Ruben Gallego (D) the married with children partying buddy of Eric Swalwell. Not much of a change in the morals department.
Wilbur, the Carolina Journal article I linked above has a pretty good description with links to some court documents. Sinema did have the case moved to Federal court (Middle District of NC) based on citizenship diversity. Interestingly the initial request amount of damages was only $25,000 plus unspecified punitive damages. I think they had to stipulate the payout would be at least $75,000 in that filing.
I think Heather Ammel's lawyers have pretty much conceded there was no physical contact between Mathew Ammel and Sinema in North Carolina.
AZ installed toe D- vote cheat. That's why they have Rueben Gallego.
from what I have seen regarding courts today, it would be considered unconstitutional to prevent alienation of affection, it denys your right to free speech in talking to or sending messages to another person. The gravamen is the destruction or alienation of the marital relationship, not adultery per se. And it seems to impact privacy, like in abortion cases.
And isn’t adultery a symptom of the destruction of the relationship rather than a cause?
"Totally hot?"
At best a DC 7.
And like the prices in DC, those numbers are inflated.
All's fair in lust and abortion.
Ann Althouse said...
It seems to me that the victim was in North Carolina when she was being harmed by Sinema, so Sinema purposefully directed her actions at North Carolina. Also the marriage was located there, the married couple was domiciled there.
Bingo.
And it's perfectly possible for someone to wreck a previously functioning marriage by working to seduce one of the members thereof.
Since the married couple had children, I'm all in favor of KS losing this one
Nathaniel Hawthorne is is smiling quietly in his grave
It sounds like Kyrsten could be characterized as a "burden". A little privacy would be progressive. A liberal license wielded in Democratic jurisdictions would provide legal relief. #NoJudgment #NoLabels
I never understood the shifting of responsibility from the spouse to his chosen paramour. Or men blaming the other man for shagging his girl. Blame the girl, or in this case the husband, not the one they chose instead of you. If they weren't loyal then the fault is theirs, not the person they strayed with. Sinema did not have a contractural vow with the wife. She has responsibility for poor judgement, but unless she blackmailed the husband into an affair, he is the only one worthy of tort. Dumb law, dumb attitude. If my spouse strayed I would only hold that person responsible. I might cut of any social engagement with the other party, but not blame them for the spousal violation of the vows.
I'm in North Carolina and I approve of this lawsuit.
Newsweek blurb: "Facing an "alienation of affection" lawsuit filed in North Carolina by the ex-wife of her former bodyguard/staffer, detailing allegations of an intimate relationship that Sinema addressed in a deposition."
I'm Every Woman -- The Bodyguard Soundtrack
That song was stolen (allegedly) from the great Chaka Khan.
I can imagine a world where your wife cheats on you, the two of you get a divorce, and then the feminist judge rules that you need to pay her alimony.
I would definitely sue the bastard who broke up my marriage! It's tortious interference with contract. Right? You screwed up my (marriage) contract and now I have to pay for the damages.
North Carolina: Leading the USA into the 21st century
This is nice:
“In June 2024, while Sinema was still a senator, he was reportedly placed on her official Senate staff as a “Defense and National Security Fellow.” A Senate staff salary is paid through government appropriations, meaning taxpayer-funded.“
“Sinema’s deposition indicates their sexual relationship began around Memorial Day 2024—before or around the time of that Senate-staff appointment.”
Why pay for your fun when you can have it subsidized by the US of A?
Copilot: "In the 1980s, American actor Rob Lowe was romantically linked to Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, the daughter of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III. The relationship began in 1986, after Lowe had previously called her “my fantasy date” on The Tonight Show, prompting her to respond that he was “cute”.... Their romance was notable for its glamour and the fact that Stéphanie, then engaged to another man, reportedly had her boyfriend’s belongings removed from her apartment so Lowe could move in... However, the relationship was short-lived, ending before it could progress further"
Fast forward about 10 years: Princess Stéphanie of Monaco has had at least two notable bodyguards during her life, both connected to her personal and public security.
"Daniel Ducruet: Former Monaco police officer and bodyguard; served Stéphanie in 1991; later her husband (1995–1996).
Jean Raymond Gottlieb: Former Paris gendarme and palace guard; head of Stéphanie’s security during her relationship with him; rumored father of Camille Gottlieb."
Maybe there is no lesson of any sort here; nothing that I can pin down. Never Mind.
“For his official Senate job, Matthew Ammel was reported as receiving $51,721.62 from October 1, 2024 through January 2, 2025, while serving as a “Defense and National Security Fellow.” That figure covers roughly three months, so it is not an annual salary.”
“ Separately, Sinema’s campaign committee and affiliated PAC reportedly paid him more than $128,000 total between July 2024 and October 2025 for payroll/security-related work.”
(Perplexity)
“ It seems to me that the victim was in North Carolina when she was being harmed by Sinema, so Sinema purposefully directed her actions at North Carolina. Also the marriage was located there, the married couple was domiciled there.”
Hmm. If I killed a guy, I would expect to be tried in the state where the killing occurred, not the state on his driver’s license or birth certificate. Wouldn’t killing a marriage be the same thing?
I guess Sinema really is bisexual. Does that mean bisexuals really do exist?
Patty Hearst also married her bodyguard. The marriage lasted. Nowadays the pattern seems to be to date the bodyguard between marriages. They are the men celebrities spend most of their time with, and they probably do understand the women they protect better than the celebs or money men those women have dated or married.
"Homewrecker" is a very old-fashioned word, and it conjures up a very different world. It reminds me of Betty White's occasional appearances on Mary Tyler Moore's show. Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White) was the television station's "Happy Homemaker" on the afternoon show and was called the "Happy Homewrecker" behind her back.
…it reeks of the kind of overreach states are trying out with regards to taxation. Sets a dangerous precedent. Of course, blame the lawyers…
He misunderstood the term bodyguard.
Smilin' Jack said...
Hmm. If I killed a guy, I would expect to be tried in the state where the killing occurred, not the state on his driver’s license or birth certificate. Wouldn’t killing a marriage be the same thing?
If you mail someone poison from CA, and they take it in NC, where has the murder occurred? NC
The poison was. mailed /. the cheating occurred, outside of NC.
But the marriage that was destroyed was in NC..
NC should have jurisdiction, too.
He was a "full service" bodyguard for the Senator.
The senator has really long arms.
"It seems to me that the victim was in North Carolina when she was being harmed by Sinema, so Sinema purposefully directed her actions at North Carolina."
Does that mean that NC only has jurisdiction over Sinema if Sinema knew the wife lived in NC? If she did not know that, there can be no purposeful availment.
** Greg The Class Traitor said....But the marriage that was destroyed was in NC..**
Maybe so, but it wasn’t destroyed by Sinema. The husband and wife made the decision to end the marriage and Sinema wasn’t consulted about any of it. How can she be held accountable for their decision about their marriage?
Ruben Gallego is quite the gem:
“Court records show that Ruben Gallego filed for divorce from his first wife Kate Gallego in December 2016, when she was near the end of her pregnancy; filings said she was “likely to give birth any day.”
Homewrecker laws seem a little silly to me. Why would you want to assign blame to a third party for the failure of your own relationships, if not just to serve as a balm for your own hurt feelings and damaged ego? Who did you exchange the vows with, anyway? What happened to the vows, to nullify them? Aren't they supposed to be reflective of a deeper bond? But sure - go ahead and sue the 3rd party you hardly know.
I’m with Sinema on this. The Supreme Court has tightened personal jurisdiction over the last 20 years from the bullshit approach that started taking hold after World War 2. The plaintiff’s theory is that Sinema knew her paramour’s wife lived in North Carolina but didn’t fuck the guy there or even visit the guy there. The guy was living in DC at the time.
What about resident location of pussy/cock for jurisdiction purposes?
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