Mary Bono Resigns As Interim USA Gymnastics President

Mary Bono, a former Republican congresswoman from California, is out at her post as interim president and CEO of USA Gymnastics following controversy over an anti-Nike tweet and her former law firm's role in representing the organization when Larry Nassar was under investigation for sexual abuse allegations.

Bono's resignation comes less than a week after she was named interim president and CEO. Bono first came under fire for a tweet where she posted a photo showing her coloring over the Nike logo on her golf shoe. The tweet was singled out by star gymnast Simone Biles, who criticized it.

Bono, a former gymnast herself, deleted the tweet but it was in response to Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, becoming the face of an ad campaign by Nike. Kaepernick appeared in the ad campaign with the slogan "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything," due to his demonstrations taking a knee during the national anthem at NFL games to protest social injustice and police brutality.

"With respect to Mr. Kaepernick, he nationally exercised his first amendment right to kneel," Bono wrote in a resignation letter obtained by CNN. "I exercised mine: to mark over on my own golf shoes, the logo of the company sponsoring him for "believing in something even it means sacrificing everything" - while at a tournament for families who have lost a member of the armed services (including my brother-in-law, a Navy SEAL) who literally "sacrificed everything.""

In the resignation letter, Bono also defended her work at the law firm Faegre Baker Daniels. The IndyStar, whose investigations brought the Nassar sexual abuse accusations into the public, reported that Nassar and a Faegre Baker Daniels attorney agreed to provide cover stories for the team doctor to explain why he missed gymnastics events. USA Gymnastics engaged the law firm when it was looking into the allegations against Nassar, according to the IndyStar.

Bono said in her letter that she proudly stands behind her work at Faegre Baker Daniels "and appreciated how much the law firm supported my devoting considerable time to the cause of addiction prevention, treatment and recovery."

Aly Raisman, who has spoken out about her sexual abuse by Nassar, questioned why USA Gymnastics was hiring someone associated with the firm that helped cover up the abuse.

The USA Gymnastics Board of Directors said in a statement that Bono's resignation is in the best interest of the organization.

"While we continue the search for a permanent president and CEO and are currently seeking input from key stakeholders on that search, we remain steadfast in our efforts to fundamentally transform the organization at all levels to ensure athlete safety and well-being is at the heart of everything we do," the board said in its statement. "We are also committed to making sure that the focus remains on the athletes – including this week as our men and women head to Doha to compete in the World Championships.

"While we have made progress, we have much more work to do. This board is determined to take the necessary steps to support a safe, inclusive and competitive environment where all our athletes and members can grow, have fun and achieve their goals."

USA Gymnastics has been without a president since the resignation of Kerry Perry in September.

Read Bono's full resignation letter below:

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images For Palm Springs Film Festival/Getty Images Entertainment