The News Minute | September 13, 2014 | 01:01 pm ISTAlmost a month after the brutal murder of American journalist James Foley by members of the Islamic State, his parents have claimed that they were threatened by an official of the White House while their son was taken hostage by the ISIS.In an interview to ABC News, Diane Foley said that a White House national security official and a state department official threatened them with prosecution if they attempted to raise funds for the ransom needed for Foley's release. ( Aleppo, Syria - 08/12, photo by Nicole Tung. Image Source: http://freejamesfoley.org/for-the-press/ )"We had to beg. We were an annoyance, it felt, at some levels", says James Foley's mother, Diane. "I was surprised that there was so little compassion".White House officials denied about any threats made to the Foleys but agreed that the family had been informed about the country's law that was against paying money to terrorists, reports ABC. ( James Foley, Tripoli (Libya) airport, August 2011, Photo: Jonathan Pedneault; Image source: http://freejamesfoley.org/for-the-press/ )The Foley's will now open a foundation that will help other hostages stuck in similar situations like their son was in. Watch this touching montage by Shell Shock Pictures in remembrance of journalist James Foley.