Bribery or lobbying? Jeremy Johnson says there's no difference

Attorneys for Rawle, who died of cancer last December, issued a statement last week backing up Swallow's assertion that he wasn't at that meeting.

Johnson and a business associate ultimately paid Rawle $250,000. Rawle hired a lobbying firm and an attorney's office, which started making inquiries into iWorks and its industry. But no lobbying took place because the FTC filed its complaint 20 days after they were retained, according to the statement.

Johnson said Swallow was familiar with how iWorks marketed and sold its products and wanted to help get it out from under the FTC investigation. He said Swallow has failed to address that in his public comments about his involvement.

"He felt that the government was wrong. He was trying to help protect a Utah company and a Utah citizen," Johnson said. "He, of course, leaves all that out. I think people would have more respect for him if that's the story he starts telling, which happens to be the truth."

A poll conducted last week for the BYU Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy found that 49 percent of Utah voters who believe that the allegations against Swallow suggest he did something illegal or unethical say he should resign.

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