From the New York Times, I'm Michael Barbarale. This is The Daily.

Today, the CIA is waging an unusual campaign to make Gina Haspel its next leader,

despite her polarizing past.

Why agents there see her most controversial quality as her greatest asset?

It's Tuesday, May.

I'm John. Thanks for being here. It's an honor to have you.

It's a pleasure to be here.

I realize it's not often that you sit down with the New York Times.

No, it's not one of my preferred activities.

Adam Goldman, who is John Bennett?

John Bennett was one of America's top spies. He also was in charge of the National

Clendestine Service, the spy arm of the CIA, when President Obama ordered the raid on the

Assumament Bin Laden compound in Pakistan in 2011.

So how unusual is it that someone of Bennett's status, especially in such a clandestine world,

sits down and talks with you on the record in front of a microphone?

It's something he has rarely done since he left the agency in 2013.

In fact, I've tried to contact John.

And he is not responded.

So then why is he talking to you now?

Like any good spy, John has a mission.

He wants to get the word out about Gina Haspel, who has been nominated to be the director of the CIA.

And what do we need to know about Gina Haspel?

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