I don't really think it has much to do with making Phil feel better, it's just the way it should be.
Should you ever find yourself in trouble with the law you would/should enjoy the same right.
That goes for anyone here.
"Sort of" is such a harmless thing to say. "Sort of". It's just a filler. "Sort of" - It doesn't really mean anything. But after certain things, "sort of" means everything. Like after "I love you" or "You're going to live" or "It's a boy".