Q&A on the News

Q: Now that President Donald Trump has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit the U.S., is it within Congress’ power to subpoena Putin to testify before a congressional committee while on U.S. soil and subject to U.S. law?

—David Porter, Doraville

A: Putin, as a head of state, could ignore any congressional invitation or subpoena to testify before a committee because he has diplomatic immunity, William Banks, a professor in the Syracuse University College of Law, told Q&A on the News in an email.

Congress could not enforce a subpoena through compulsory process, for example, criminal contempt or arrest.

“Ultimately he could ignore an invitation or subpoena because it could not be enforced,” Banks wrote.

Following their meeting in Helsinki, Trump had invited Putin to Washington this fall. However, on July 25 the White House announced the visit would be postponed until 2019, according to media reports.

Q: I have never seen anything like the Krog Street Tunnel. Would you please let me know the dimensions?

—Barb Findlay, Taylor, Utah

A: The tunnel, which connects Atlanta’s Cabbagetown and Inman Park neighborhoods, is 410 feet long and 51 feet wide, Jenny Odom, spokeswoman for Atlanta BeltLine Inc., told Q&A on the News in an email. Odom added that the tunnel measures 8 feet, 11 inches tall on the eastern sidewalk and 10 feet, 4 inches on the western sidewalk.

Q&A on the News runs Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Fast Copy News Service wrote this column; Dillon Thompson contributed. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).