Melanie Eversley

USA TODAY

NAACP interim President and CEO Lorraine Miller has accepted the resignation of the Los Angeles chapter president after questions surfaced as to why his branch honored beleaguered L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life Tuesday after revelations surfaced regarding Sterling making numerous statements denigrating black Americans.

In a letter of resignation, L.A. chapter President Leon Jenkins wrote, "Please be advised that the legacy, history and reputation of the NAACP is more important to me than the presidency. In order to separate the Los Angeles NAACP and the NAACP from the negative exposure I have caused the NAACP, I respectfully resign my position as president of the Los Angeles NAACP."

Jenkins has come under fire from the public in recent days after it was made public that the chapter honored Sterling with a lifetime achievement award in 2009 and planned to do so again this month. Published reports indicated that Sterling had donated $45,000 to the chapter since 2007.

Earlier in the week, Jenkins told a press conference that the donations came to "an insignificant amount" and the chapter planned to return the money.

The NAACP said in its statement Thursday that its national office in Baltimore is developing guidelines to assist branches in their award selection process.