Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s ex-bodyguard turned lover was arrested for allegedly threatening to “take down” the ex-politician — a month after he was accused of causing $200,000 worth of damage to her home.
Matthew Ammel, 39, was arrested in a Cheesecake Factory parking lot in Phoenix on Tuesday after cops received a tip-off from his GPS monitor, Arizona Republic reported.
He was busted near a gun store after dropping off a knife, which officials described as a “large, military style” blade, to be engraved as a present for his nephew’s Marine Corps boot camp graduation.
Ammel, who is currently embroiled in a custody dispute with his ex-wife, allegedly tried to buy a gun, threatened to kill a North Carolina judge, and allegedly threatened to “take down” former independent senator Sinema, according to court documents seen by KPHO.
Ammel, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan before joining Sinema’s security team in 2022, was issued a no-contact order as part of his release terms following his Sept. 17 arrest for allegedly thrashing her Cave Creek property.
However, he reportedly flouted it two days later when he tried to get a pal to contact the former pol.
Sinema, 50, reported it to cops on Sept. 22 but refused to help prosecutors, according to Maricopa County attorneys.
Following Ammel’s arrest, a judge set his bond for $25,000 – but prosecutors called for it to be increased to $100,000 cash-only, alluding to his alleged threats to kill.
“The state fears [Ammel] will escalate his retaliation if released,” a court filing signed off by Bryn Barasha, the Maricopa County Deputy Attorney, said.
Prosecutors claimed Ammel “contacted military friends to build him a rifle, purchased tactical gear, and discussed funeral arrangements,” without providing further context.
Ammel refused to be taken to court on Thursday for his arraignment, which has since been moved to Oct. 15.
Ammel was charged with felony criminal damage after allegedly causing around $200,000 worth of damage in Sinema’s Cave Creek home on Aug. 30.
He has since claimed he damaged Sinema’s home because of disillusionment with the state of US politics.
“I was p—-d at the system,” he told the Arizona Republic. “I took it out on her art.
“The American people have no idea how [f–ked] up our government is, and, like what our politicians spend their time doing.”
Ammel, who is suffering from the effects of brain injuries, vowed, “I’m not a bad guy.”
“I’m not crazy. I’m just really smart, and I have seen behind the curtains.”
Ammel said he trashed Sinema’s home after she refused to post a video of soldiers helping a wounded man in Iraq.
He wanted Sinema to use her Pentagon connections to look into why his unit didn’t receive the Presidential Unit Citation.
Ammel also claimed Sinema “works for some of the companies that financially benefit from the genocide in Gaza” – without naming the firms.
Ammel, who admitted he had been drinking, allegedly threatened to destroy a piece of her artwork every 10 minutes if she didn’t comply.
She refused, and he allegedly threw 22 paintings into her swimming pool, with the estimated damage coming to around $123,000.
Ammel also allegedly shattered several expensive alcohol bottles and destroyed one mirror, bringing damages to more than $200,000.
Sinema’s relationship with her former bodyguard became public after Ammel’s ex-wife of 14 years sued the former politician under North Carolina’s “homewrecker law.”
Heather Ammel accused Sinema of destroying her marriage with her ex-husband by sustaining an affair with him during their trips together around the world.
The affair broke out a little over a year after Ammel was hired to Sinema’s protection detail in 2022.
Sinema allegedly bought Ammel gifts and paid for him to receive psychedelic treatment during the home-wrecking relationship.
She invited him as a guest to a wedding and a Taylor Swift concert.
Sinema, the first openly bisexual person elected to Congress, admitted to having repeated sexwith Ammel in cities across America beginning around Memorial Day 2024.
Sinema didn’t seek election in 2024.
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