What is the term for a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime against a government official?

The term that specifically refers to a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime against a government official, particularly in the context of the executive branch, is impeachment. Impeachment is a constitutional process through which a legislative body, such as the House of Representatives in the United States, can bring charges against a federal official. It serves as a mechanism to hold officials accountable for misconduct that constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors."

While indictment refers generally to a formal accusation in criminal law and can apply to anyone, not just government officials, impeachment is uniquely tied to public officials and is a political process rather than strictly a legal one. Accusation is a broader term that does not imply the formal or legislative process involved in impeachment. Exoneration, on the other hand, means to clear someone from blame or fault, which is the opposite of what impeachment entails. Thus, the choice of impeachment accurately reflects the formal process for addressing serious misconduct by government officials.