Well, it's because the intention.... I was not going to rub his back and he rubs my back: This was not, “I'm going to make you have advancements through your career so you can keep funding contracts.” You have to bear in mind, after knowing Mr. MacDonald since 2010, that the first contract I was awarded while he was in the department was 10 years later. That doesn't sound like it's a relationship that's been going back and forth many times.
On March 13th, 2024. See this statement in context.