Heller, Amodei press U.S prosecutors, ATF in Reno

Two members of Nevada's congressional delegation have joined the list of those who want to know why federal prosecutors in Reno stopped pursuing cases from local agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Aides to Sen. Dean Heller and Rep. Mark Amodei said the two Republicans have requested an explanation from both ATF and the U.S. Attorney's office in Nevada.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is investigating the yearlong rift, which all but emptied the Reno ATF office and ended their undercover investigations into illegal firearms trafficking operations in Nevada.

According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, an assistant U.S. attorney in Reno told ATF in a letter in September 2011 that her office won't prosecute any ATF cases until certain unnamed "issues" are resolved.