Cooper Allen

USA TODAY

PHILADELPHIA — Outgoing party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has told a Florida newspaper she will no longer open the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

"I have decided that in the interest of making sure that we can start the Democratic convention on a high note that I am not going to gavel in the convention," the Florida congresswoman told south Florida's Sun Sentinel.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will instead gavel in today's festivities.

With the controversy over leaked party emails that showed Democratic staffers favoring Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders during the primary campaign still simmering, Wasserman Schultz faced the prospect of a hostile reception from delegates on the floor Monday.

On Monday morning, at a Florida delegation breakfast, Wasserman Schultz was met with a chorus of boos from Sanders supporters.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump accused Hillary Clinton of "disloyalty" toward the soon-to-be former party chairwoman, claiming the presumptive Democratic nominee knew all about DNC efforts to tilt the nomination race toward her.

"Man, I don't want her covering my back," Trump said of Clinton.

Speaking to supporters in Roanoke, Va., on Monday, Trump also taunted Wasserman Schultz over her fall from leadership.

"I always knew she was highly overrated," Trump said. "They said, 'Debbie, you're fired! Out, Debbie!'"

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon told CNN the decision to step back from Monday's opening was Wasserman Schultz's decision, as was her resignation.

“She decided she needed to take this added step, and I think it’s just a tribute to her willingness to do whatever it takes to have a distraction-free convention here so that we can all come together as a party,” he said.

Contributing: David Jackson and Eliza Collins

Q&A: What's the deal with the leaked DNC emails?