Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said in a Sunday interview that University of Virginia President James Ryan, who submitted his resignation on Friday, was given an “explicit” deadline to step aside, in a letter last week from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The Justice Department had demanded that Jim Ryan step down to resolve an investigation into the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Some UVA board members reportedly met with DOJ officials to see what could be done to end the probe into possible civil-rights violations and were told the president needed to step aside.