Diane Foley, the mother of American journalist James Foley who was murdered by terrorists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), told CNN she was threatened with prosecution by the U.S. government if she attempted to raise ransom for her son.
"We were told we could not raise ransom, that it was illegal, we might be prosecuted," she said.
"He was sacrificed because of just a lack of coordination, a lack of communication, a lack of prioritization," Foley said. "As a family, we had to find our way through this on our own."
Officials told CNN they were "shocked" by the idea that anyone would threaten the Foley family, and Secretary of State John Kerry denied any knowledge of it.
"I am totally unaware and would not condone anybody that I know of within the State Department making such a statement. So I don't know about it," said Kerry.
"As an American, I was embarrassed and appalled," Foley said.
The family of Steven Sotloff, the second American journalist murdered by ISIL, has accused the Obama administration of making "inaccurate statements" about his capture and using the American hostages as "pawns."
A spokesman for the Sotloff family told CNN last week their relationship with the administration was "very strained."