The spokesman for the family of murdered American journalist Steven Sotloff has once again hit out at the Obama administration, accusing the president and his insiders of being uncooperative and bullying, and scaring the family into softening efforts to rescue Sotloff from the hands of ISIS terrorists.

Appearing on CBS show This Morning, Barak Barfi explained how poorly the family of the slain reporter were treated while they were still trying to save their loved one.

"We had meetings with the administration. The family sat with the National Security Council official. And basically he bullied and hectored them, and they were scared." Barfi said, explaining the The White house attempted to intimidate the family into withdrawing from the negotiation process.

"I'm hearing Denis McDonough saying they weren't threatened. He wasn't in the meeting," Barfi added, referring to a denial of the accusations by the White House chief of staff. "John Kerry wasn't in the meetings. The family was in the meetings, and then I was in a subsequent meeting. And I know what I heard." Barfi urged.