Sinema’s former bodyguard and boyfriend arrested again after accusations of more threatening behavior

Published October 2, 2026 11:30am ET | Updated October 2, 2026 11:30am ET



Former Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s bodyguard and former partner was arrested again this week for violating the terms of his pretrial release after law enforcement officials pinged him at a gun shop in Phoenix, Arizona.

Officials say Matthew Ammel, Sinema’s former bodyguard with whom she had an affair, was allegedly trying to obtain a gun, had held a large knife in the gun shop, and threatened Sinema, saying he would “take her down.” Ammel, 39, was arrested Wednesday in a Cheesecake Factory parking lot.

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