Judge rules Sinema can be sued under North Carolina's homewrecker law

A federal judge ruled that former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema can face a North Carolina lawsuit alleging she helped break up the marriage of Matthew Ammel, a member of her security detail. Judge David A. Bragdon found that nine text messages Sinema sent Ammel while he was in North Carolina established jurisdiction, rejecting her argument that she had no connection to the state. Ammel’s ex-wife is seeking financial damages under North Carolina’s “alienation of affection” law, which allows spouses to sue third parties accused of contributing to the breakdown of a marriage. Sinema has acknowledged a romantic relationship with Ammel, while allegations about their messages and encounters were detailed in the lawsuit and in her deposition; her attorney did not immediately comment.