The Gossip Girl star has been embroiled in a bitter battle with her ex-husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch, since he was awarded custody of eight-year-old Hermes and six-year-old Helena, and the U.S.-born children were sent to live with him in Europe in 2012.

Rutherford violated the custody order by refusing to return the kids to Giersch after they spent a summer break with her in America, but she was ordered to give the youngsters up at a court hearing in New York earlier this month (Aug15).

Following the hearing, her legal team filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court in an effort to reverse the ruling, but a judge dismissed the filing later the same day.

Rutherford's lawyer Wendy Murphy tells Us Weekly magazine her client presented U.S. leader President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry with a petition for help signed by over 100,000 supporters, including celebrities Kim Kardashian and Ed Westwick, and claims many U.S. politicians agreed to throw their support behind her as well - but she has heard nothing from them.

Naming and shaming those who allegedly offered their help, Murphy says, "Many congressmen and women said they would help, including (Chuck) Schumer, (Kirsten) Gillibrand, (Barbara) Boxer, Chris Smith, and (Sheila) Jackson-Lee. Several even agreed to send a letter to the State Department advising them that they should protect Kelly's children from being forced to leave their own country. But they all did absolutely nothing."