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Kelly Rutherford's custody petition won't get reply from President Obama


UPDATED FEBRUARY 7, 2019 6:49 AM EST

Kelly Rutherford's ongoing custody battle withher ex Daniel Giersch has been one disappointment after another and she turnedto the public for support. Supporters of the actress started a petition for her cause threemonths ago and with the help of celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Ed Westwick's, it easily surpassed the 100,000 signature level required for a replyfrom the President.

But this week the celebrity mom and the 119, 218 supporters and concerned citizens who signed the peition did not get the reply they were looking for. Because the case is still the subject on ongoing legel proceedings, the White House cannot comment on it, officials said.

It was announced that the White House wouldn't comment on Kelly's petition Photo: Getty Images

"As the We the People Terms of Participationexplain, to 'avoid the appearance of improper influence, the White House maydecline to address certain procurement, law enforcement, adjudicatory, orsimilar matters properly within the jurisdiction of federal departments oragencies, federal courts, or state and local government,' " read the response."Your petition raises issues that appear to be the subject of ongoinglegal proceedings, and that's why we're declining to comment on it."

Ed Westwick was one of many celebrities that signed the petition Photo: Instagram/@kellyrutherford

A frustrated Kelly tells HELLO! that thePresident comments on cases in the legal system frequently and she's upsetabout the lack of support when it comes to the rights of U.S. citizens. "Ourpetition asks not that he inject himself into private litigation but rather,that he speak out in support of the U.S. citizenship rights of all children,including mine," she says. "He spoke out last year on exactly thisissue when he released an executive order that allowed American citizenchildren to remain in the US even when their parents are in this country illegallyand are not citizens. I'm simply asking the president to show the same concernfor citizen children whose parents are U.S. citizens."

Kelly has been fighting for custody of her kids for six years Photo: Getty Images

She adds, "He talked about not taking children away fromtheir loving mothers, and I obviously understand and support that sentiment. I justdon't understand why that doesn't apply to me simply because I am an Americancitizen; it makes no sense. How can mychildren and I not be worthy of at least the same degree of presidentialconcern?"

This unsettling news comes after both Californiaand New York ruled they have no jurisdiction in her in her six-year-long international battle forher two children Hermes, 8, and Helena 6 who have been living withtheir father in Monaco since 2012.