Bodyguard in Senator Sex Scandal Arrested Over $200K Rampage

SARAH SILBIGER / REUTERS The ex-bodyguard and lover of former Sen.

Kyrsten Sinema has been arrested over an alleged $200,000 rampage at her home.

Matthew Ammel, 39, became embroiled in a high-profile scandal with Sinema, 50, after his former wife sued the ex-Arizona senator over their relationship.

Sinema later admitted in a deposition that she and Ammel, who was married, began having sex in May 2024, including on a trip to New York for CNN anchor Jessica Dean’s wedding.

Ammel is now accused of targeting Sinema’s Cave Creek, Arizona, home on Aug.

30 and threatening to “damage her paintings every 10 minutes” unless she posted a video to X, according to court documents reported by KPNX .

It is not clear what the video was meant to say.

Sinema refused, investigators say, leading Ammel to allegedly pull more than 20 pieces of art from the walls—with a value of $123,000—and dump them into her swimming pool.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived on Sept.

3 and found paintings still submerged in the water, and another that had been daubed with black spray paint.

Ammel is also accused of smashing costly bottles of alcohol around the property and pool and hurling one at a large wall-mounted mirror.

Authorities estimated the total damage at more than $200,000.

Sinema gave investigators messages, recordings and surveillance footage allegedly showing Ammel damaging the property, according to Arizona Family .

He was taken into custody last week and faces a criminal damage charge.