Former special counsel Jack Smith told House lawmakers that the Justice Department under President Donald Trump should not have dismissed federal charges against two of Trump’s codefendants in the classified documents case, according to Democrats who spoke to reporters during a break in Smith’s closed-door deposition Wednesday.

Democrats revealed the claim during a press conference held outside the House Judiciary Committee room while Smith was still testifying behind closed doors. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) said Smith made clear during questioning that there was “no basis on the evidence or the facts or the law” to dismiss charges against Trump aide Walt Nauta and his Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos De Oliveira.