The parents of slain journalist James Foley divulged to the media that the U.S. government threatened their family with prosecution should they give in to the terror group ISIS' demand and pay for their son's ransom.

Diane Foley, mother of James, told ABC News that she was surprised that there was so little compassion from the government officials who delivered the three separate warnings about the illegality of paying ransom to the ISIS group.

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Diane said she realized that these officials talking to them had no empathy at all and had no idea how it was like to be the family of someone who had been kidnapped.

ABC reported that the family was in such anguish after they were told that they could do nothing while their son,  James,  was being tortured and beaten every day by the ISIS.

Reports said current and former U.S. officials who have inside information about the Foley case confirmed that  the alleged threats were made to the Foley family.

A former official who did not want to be identified said the threats were "utterly an idiotic thing to do as if the U.S. officials had the compassion of an anvil."

Diane said the warnings came  primarily from a bemedalled  military officer from the White House Security Council. James Foley's brother, Michael, said he was threatened by a State Department official with prosecution should their family continue to raise money for James' ransom.

Diane told ABC News that the whole situation was "upsetting" since they were told to trust that the government was exerting all efforts to bring James home.

Reports said the U.S. government did try to rescue James and the other American and European captives of ISIS from  a stronghold in Syria in July but by the time the commandos had arrived, the captives had already been moved. Weeks later, James had been executed by an ISIS militant.

Diane resented the fact that the government did not give them enough information about their son's situation. She said the family practically had to beg for information from these officials about their son.

She said these government officials saw them as "annoyance" and that they had no time for them.

Josh Earnest, White House spokesperson, said the government was in constant touch with the Foley family during the abduction but refused to comment on the alleged threats made by state officials on the Foley family.

Earnest said that it is the policy of the administration to not pay ransom to terrorist organizations.

State Secretary John Kerry said he was surprised about the warnings that had been allegedly made on the family and said he would not condone any officials he knew within the State Department making such statements.

Tagsransom, james foley, ISIS, Diane Foley