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.
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he → turn → 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.
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Republic → arrest → monitor
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.
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officials → bust → 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.
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who → embroil → 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.
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who → serve → property
However, he reportedly flouted it two days later when he tried to get a pal to contact the former pol.
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pal → flout → pol
Sinema, 50, reported it to cops on Sept. 22 but refused to help prosecutors, according to Maricopa County attorneys.
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Sinema → report → 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.
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filing → follow → Barasha
Prosecutors claimed Ammel “contacted military friends to build him a rifle, purchased tactical gear, and discussed funeral arrangements,” without providing further context.
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Ammel → claim → context
Ammel refused to be taken to court on Thursday for his arraignment, which has since been moved to Oct. 15.
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which → refuse → Oct.
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.
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Ammel → charge → Aug.
“I was p—-d at the system,” he told the Arizona Republic.
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he → p—-d → Republic
“I took it out on her art.
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I → take → art
“The American people have no idea how [f–ked] up our government is, and, like what our politicians spend their time doing.”
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politicians → have → time
Ammel, who is suffering from the effects of brain injuries, vowed, “I’m not a bad guy.”
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I → suffer → injuries
“I’m not crazy.
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I → ’m → ?
I’m just really smart, and I have seen behind the curtains.”
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I → ’m → curtains
Ammel said he trashed Sinema’s home after she refused to post a video of soldiers helping a wounded man in Iraq.
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soldiers → say → Iraq
He wanted Sinema to use her Pentagon connections to look into why his unit didn’t receive the Presidential Unit Citation.
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unit → want → Citation
Ammel also claimed Sinema “works for some of the companies that financially benefit from the genocide in Gaza” – without naming the firms.
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that → claim → 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.
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she → admit → artwork
She refused, and he allegedly threw 22 paintings into her swimming pool, with the estimated damage coming to around $123,000.
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damage → refuse → 123,000
Ammel also allegedly shattered several expensive alcohol bottles and destroyed one mirror, bringing damages to more than $200,000.
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Ammel → shatter → 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.”
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wife → become → law
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Report → start → news
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.
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Ammel → accuse → world
The affair broke out a little over a year after Ammel was hired to Sinema’s protection detail in 2022.
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Ammel → break → 2022
Sinema allegedly bought Ammel gifts and paid for him to receive psychedelic treatment during the home-wrecking relationship.
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him → buy → 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 sex with Ammel in cities across America beginning around Memorial Day 2024.
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Sinema → invite → Day
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