The White House is claiming “total exoneration” over the findings of the U.S.-Russia investigation. The summary of the report by the justice department did not find evidence of conspiracy or collusion. However, the report did not “exonerate” the president when it came to allegations of obstruction of justice.  

CGTN’s Nathan King filed this report, explaining why the political fight is far from over.

It was a new day at the White House. Officials who had been living under the cloud of the Mueller investigation had it lifted this weekend. President Donald Trump argued that he’s been vindicated.

“We can never let this happen to another president again. I can tell you that,” Trump said. “I say it very strongly, Very few people I know could have handled it. We can never, ever let this happen to another president again.”

The attorney general’s summary said the report did not “exonerate” the President over obstruction of justice. That is still a matter under review by federal prosecutors in New York.

Congress is also conducting investigations demanding the release of the full report. Many lawmakers want its author and the attorney general to testify.

“We’re going to move forward. We’re going to move forward with our investigations of obstruction of justice, abuses of power, corruption: to defend the rule of law, which is our — which is our job,” said Chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler.

An emboldened President Trump said he would be happy to see the whole report released. Meanwhile, his administration attacked opposition Democrats, and the U.S. media, for speculating about the report before its publication.

“I think Democrats and the liberal media should be absolutely embarrassed by their behavior over the last two years, in their breathless reporting, in their hope,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. “It’s not just that they reported and spread a slanderous, malicious lie, but they hoped for the takedown of the president of the United States.”

The U.S. attorney general said more of the Mueller report will be released as soon as possible, but for now, the White House argues this chapter is over.

The end of this nearly two-year investigation could help improve ties between Washington and Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested Moscow also felt vindicated by the findings, saying, “It’s hard to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if it isn’t there.”