Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is the defendant in a lawsuit filed this week in federal court. The plaintiff alleges that Sinema is liable for the end of her marriage to a U.S. Army veteran.
Sinema is accused in court records of starting an affair with Army veteran Matt Ammel after he began doing security work for the then senator in 2022.
The complaint also alleges that Sinema encouraged Ammel to bring drugs on a work trip so she could be his guide.
Sinema and Ammel testified at an Arizona legislative hearing last February about a bill to fund research on psychedelic drugs as a mental health treatment.
“I personally learned about ibogaine from Matt’s experience, who will testify next. It was so profound that I spent the last two years personally researching and working on a path to ensure that others can get access to this important treatment,” Sinema said.
Ammel spoke immediately after Sinema finished answering questions.
“Separating from the Army, up to that point in my life, I didn’t really have a purpose or a direction of what to do. My brain was kind of a mess. And post ibogaine treatment kind of gave me a direction forward,” Ammel said.
The plaintiff is seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
Representatives for Sinema did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
KJZZ's Greg Hahne contributed to this report.
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