Bloomberg reporter arrested during anti-Israel protesters' takeover of Columbia University library — and is no longer employed by outlet
A now-former Bloomberg News reporter was arrested when anti-Israel protesters took over Columbia University's main library this month, according to law enforcement sources.
Jason Kao, who also used to work at the New York Times, was charged with criminal trespass after NYPD officers entered Butler Library to regain control of the building on the elite Morningside Heights campus on May 7, sources confirmed Monday.
Kao was given a desk appearance ticket following the arrest at Columbia.
The graphics reporter is no longer employed by the financial news outlet, a Bloomberg spokesperson told The Post Monday.
The spokesperson declined to comment when asked when Kao's last day was and whether the journalist was fired or resigned.
The ex-staffer's arrest and apparent job loss were first reported by the Free Beacon.
It's also unclear what role Kao, a 2022 Columbia graduate who wrote for the college's newspaper, played in the chaos at the library.
The Post has reached out to the NYPD for comment.
Police hauled away 81 people during the protest inside the Ivy League library, where protesters vandalized school property and banged on drums, disrupting other students attempting to study for final exams earlier this month.
Acting school president Claire Shipman said at the time that two security guards were also injured when masked demonstrators stormed the building.
More than 65 students have since faced interim suspensions, while 33 individuals from affiliated institutions and an unspecified number of alumni have been barred from campus.
Kao previously worked at the New York Times as part of its fellowship program and most recently contributed to a Bloomberg article on May 1, the Free Beacon reported.
Kao's now-deleted X account included numerous posts about the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza following the terror group's attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Free Beacon.
Another high-profile person arrested during the library takeover was student Ramona Sarsgaard, the 18-year-old daughter of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Attempts to reach Kao were unsuccessful Monday night.
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