Kyrsten Sinema’s former lover has revealed his startling explanation for destroying more than $200,000 worth of property at the former Arizona senator’s Cave Creek home. Matthew Ammel said his anger was directed at “the system,” but her belongings absorbed the damage.

Ammel, 39, discussed his affair with his former boss in an interview with the Arizona Daily Star. The former Green Beret had worked as Sinema’s bodyguard and was married when their relationship began.

He is accused of damaging paintings, expensive bottles of alcohol, a mirror and other property during an August 30 rampage. The destruction at Sinema’s Arizona home allegedly exceeded $200,000.

“I was p—ed at the system and I took it out on her art,” Ammel told the Daily Star. “The American people have no idea how [expletive] up our government is and, like, what our politicians spend their time doing.”

Ammel struggles with brain injuries from his military service. He told the newspaper that frustration with United States foreign policy and the military industry complex contributed to his anger.

At one point, Ammel demanded that Sinema, 50, publish a video showing soldiers helping a man they had shot in Iraq. The footage came from Ammel’s first deployment in 2007.

He said he wanted Sinema to publish the clip “because she works for some of the companies that financially benefit from the genocide in Gaza and the current war we’re losing in Iran.”

“The same news channels and politicians championing war now were calling us terrorists and racists for our behavior during this time period. [None] of this makes sense. That’s what I was angry about,” Ammel told the outlet.

Ammel told Sinema he would throw one of her artworks into the swimming pool every 10 minutes until she followed his demand. He ultimately dumped 22 paintings and sent videos to Sinema during the destruction, according to a police report.

The report also said Ammel smashed liquor bottles into a mirror and a clock. He told the Daily Star that he deliberately avoided destroying artwork Sinema had received as gifts from friends.

“I was trying to get her to come back home, or to do something, or to use her connections for good instead of for, to make money,” he said. “I was just going through it, and I don’t usually drink, and I got drunk, and I destroyed some of her paintings.”

Ammel rejected the idea that the episode defined him. “I’m not a bad guy,” he maintained. “I’m not crazy. I’m just really [expletive] smart, and I’ve seen behind the curtains.”

Sinema returned home days later and filed a police report. At the time, Ammel had been admitted to an urgent psychiatric center for mental health treatment, and police arrested him after his discharge.

Ammel also described becoming disturbed during his final trip to Washington, D.C., with Sinema. They attended an event for Palantir CEO Alex Karp that Ammel viewed as a “genocide celebration” connected to the war in Gaza.

Records show Karp and other Palantir employees donated thousands of dollars to Sinema’s campaign in 2022 and 2023. She returned some of that money after deciding not to seek reelection.

“Kyrsten was there rubbing elbows with Trump’s personal lawyer and, like, it was legitimately the most insane thing I had ever seen,” Ammel said.

“She would talk about how she would take bad people’s money and use it for good, but like at some point, I didn’t see her doing good anymore,” he continued. “She was just doing the bad [expletive].”

Sinema is now a senior adviser at law firm Hogan Lovells and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She previously said she met Ammel in 2022 and that their affair began during Memorial Day weekend in 2024.

Ammel’s former wife, Heather, is suing Sinema, accusing her of wrecking their marriage of 14 years. The lawsuit adds another bitter chapter to a relationship already marked by an affair, an alleged six figure property rampage and Ammel’s extraordinary explanation for it.