I think in isolation, maybe that statement is exculpatory as to Obama, but reading the whole thing, it looks like maybe there was going to be a promise of something in 2 years - and that is what ticked Blago off. So, when he’s saying all they’ll give him is appreciation, that’s his interpretation of a payoff that starts 2 years down the road. Obviously team Obama had to nix the appearance of a payoff by keeping it to a 2 year trigger. But Blago wanted something more immediate.
Good point. Isn’t that what happened with Rezko and the Illinois Treasurer’s family? The payoff would be after some time so that when it was done it wasn’t an obvious payoff.