Independent U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona acknowledged a past romantic relationship with a member of her security detail in a court filing this week. The filing is part of her response to a lawsuit brought by her ex-wife, Blake Dain.
Dain's lawsuit, filed in 2025, alleges Sinema misused taxpayer funds by allowing the security guard, who was a Phoenix Police Department detective assigned to her protective detail, to live in her Washington, D.C., residence. The suit claims this constituted an improper personal benefit from a publicly funded position.
In her response filed on March 10, 2026, Sinema admitted to a "personal relationship" with the detective that began in 2021 and ended in early 2023. However, she denied any misuse of funds, stating the detective's presence was related to his official protective duties. The Phoenix Police Department has stated it does not comment on personnel matters.
The legal dispute stems from the couple's 2023 divorce. Sinema, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent in 2022, is not seeking re-election in 2024.
