Bloomberg reporter arrested during anti-Israel protesters’ takeover of Columbia University library — and is no longer employed by outlet

A now-former Bloomberg News newsman was arrested erstwhile anti-Israel protesters took complete Columbia University’s main room this month, according to rule enforcement sources.  

Jason Kao, who besides utilized to activity astatine nan New York Times, was charged pinch criminal trespass aft NYPD officers entered Butler Library to regain power of nan building connected nan elite Morningside Heights field connected May 7, sources confirmed Monday.

Kao was fixed a table quality summons pursuing nan apprehension astatine Columbia.

The graphics newsman is nary longer employed by nan financial news outlet, a Bloomberg spokesperson told The Post Monday.

The spokesperson declined to remark erstwhile asked erstwhile Kao’s past time was and whether nan journalist was fired aliases resigned.

The ex-staffer’s apprehension and evident occupation nonaccomplishment were first reported by nan Free Beacon.

It’s besides unclear what domiciled Kao, a 2022 Columbia postgraduate who wrote for nan college’s newspaper, played successful nan chaos astatine nan library.

The Post has reached retired to nan NYPD for comment.

Police hauled distant 81 group during nan protestation wrong nan Ivy League library, wherever protesters vandalized schoolhouse spot and banged connected drums, disrupting different students attempting to study for last exams earlier this month.

Acting schoolhouse president Claire Shipman said astatine nan clip that 2 information guards were besides injured erstwhile masked demonstrators stormed nan building.

More than 65 students have since faced interim suspensions, while 33 individuals from affiliated institutions and an unspecified number of alumni person been barred from campus.

Kao antecedently worked astatine nan New York Times arsenic portion of its fellowship programme and astir precocious contributed to a Bloomberg article connected May 1, nan Free Beacon reported.

Kao’s now-deleted X relationship included galore posts astir nan conflict betwixt Israel and Hamas successful Gaza pursuing nan panic group’s onslaught connected Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, according to nan Free Beacon.

Another high-profile personification arrested during nan room takeover was student Ramona Sarsgaard, nan 18-year-old girl of character Maggie Gyllenhaal. 

Attempts to scope Kao were unsuccessful Monday night.