Secretary of State John Kerry Friday told reporters that he was "really taken aback [and] surprised" by Foley's allegations. "I can tell you that I am totally unaware and would not condone anybody that I know of within the State Department making such statements," Kerry said.

However, five current and former officials with direct knowledge of the Foley case confirmed to ABC News that the alleged threats were made, with one of them calling it "an utterly idiotic thing to do that came across as if (the government) had the compassion of an anvil."

Diane Foley said that warnings over the summer came primarily from a highly decorated military officer serving on the White House's National Security Council staff. James Foley's brother, Michael, also told ABC News that he was directly threatened with possible prosecution by a State Department official.

"It was very upsetting because we were essentially told to trust... that the way they were handling things would bring our son home," Diane Foley said.

The U.S. government did try to rescue James Foley along with other American and European hostages from an ISIS stronghold in Syria in early July, but by the time the elite commandos arrived at the location, the hostages had been moved. Foley was executed weeks later by a self-professed ISIS militant.

Diane Foley said the family believed they knew where their son was being held prior to his execution, but other than the July rescue mission, it didn't seem like anything was being done.