Hillary Clinton and her allies think that the political and legal cloud that hovered over her presidential prospects for more than a year blew away last week with news that the Justice Department would not pursue criminal charges in her handling of sensitive emails.

Her Republican opponents say the cloud is as thick as ever – and every bit as useful as a political weapon against her.

“I am certainly relieved and glad that the investigation has concluded. But I also know how important it is to make sure everybody understands that I would certainly not do that again,” Clinton told CNN, referring to her decision to set up an outside email system that she used for her government work as secretary of state.

The privately owned setup “seemed like a convenience, but it was the wrong choice,” Clinton said in the interview.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s campaign cheered the Justice Department’s decision, viewing it as confirmation that she never intended to do anything wrong. Her allies are banking – against some compelling evidence – that voters are ready to move on.

But the decision not to pursue a case came with a harsh assessment from FBI Director James Comey that Clinton had been “extremely careless” and negligent in her handling of government secrets. Her handling of the issue has hurt her among voters who view her as untrustworthy, and Republicans say they intend to keep the issue front and center through November.

“Clinton’s email scandal isn’t going away anytime soon,” said Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Short. He accused Clinton of lying “to cover up her reckless conduct and poor judgment,” while serving as President Obama’s first-term secretary of state.

The lack of further legal jeopardy for Clinton frustrated Republicans, including presumptive Republican presidential opponent Donald Trump. It also did nothing to slow Republican efforts to paint Clinton as shifty and the decision not to prosecute her as a whitewash.

Instead, it set terms for the election four months away that echo the drumbeat of investigations and whiff of scandal from Bill Clinton’s presidency. Republicans suggest the Clintons play by different rules; Clinton allies blame what they call partisan witch hunts.

“It seems that there are two standards, and there’s no consequence,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told Comey at a hastily called hearing Thursday. “It seems to a lot of us that the average Joe, the average American, that if they had done what you laid out in your statement, that they’d be in handcuffs.”

Comey strongly disagreed, arguing there was no evidence of criminality. Clinton’s campaign said the Comey hearing “debunked GOP talking points and further substantiated Clinton’s case.”

Many Republicans also said that escaping criminal prosecution is a low bar and that voters will hold Clinton responsible. Manley said that he doubts that Republican ads will be very effective and that Republicans are likely to overplay their hand.

“I think most voters have already made up their minds on this issue,” he said. “You either trust her or you don’t.”