MIAMI — A South Florida woman with ties to state Republicans was indicted on Jan. 6 charges.
Barbara Balmaseda, 23, was arrested in December for her role in the Capitol riots after messages, pictures and videos from another person’s phone and footage from security cameras showed her involvement.
Balmaseda, from Miami Lakes, interned for United States Sen. Marco Rubio from 2018 to 2019, helped organize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2018 campaign and was campaign manager for Ileana Garcia’s controversial 2020 Florida Senate race, reported the Miami New Times.
She was also director of Miami Young Republicans and a student at Florida International University.
A phone taken by law enforcement from a different Jan. 6 case showed hundreds of messages from Balmaseda in a group chat with members of the Proud Boys talking about how the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.
The group also discussed coordinating efforts to travel to D.C. for the riots, according to federal court documents.
The criminal complaint shows pictures of Balmaseda with Trump memorabilia on. It also said that she texted Gabriel Garcia, who was found guilty of Jan. 6 charges, that she was “storming the Capital building right now.”
Footage from security cameras around the area shows her climbing on government equipment to get to the North West stairs. She was also seen numerous times inside the building with a crowd of rioters.
Two days later, Balmaseda texted Garcia and said “Hey good morning! You left a hat and a gas mask in Adolfo’s car, I also have your sunglasses in my purse and you have my taser,” according to the criminal complaint.
She is facing a handful of charges, according to federal court records:
- Tampering with a witness, victim or informant
- Two counts of temporary residence of the president
- Two counts of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
Balmaseda will be arraigned on June 11, which is 10 days after she turns 24.
