The House had started the impeachment process. Which in my mind is an indictment. This is different than a probe...yes...no? ...
Articles of Impeachment and a Criminal Indictment may sound the same: Basically you are being charged with doing something bad or engaging in misconduct. However, they are fundamentally different. The Articles of Impeachment are essentially the "charges" and when they are issued the person against whom they are issued is technically "impeached." (Think Slick Willie.) However, a trial then occurs in the Senate and if the "impeached" person is then convicted, he loses his office. (Again ... think Slick Willie ... he was impeached but not convicted.) It is a "political punishment" ... the impeached person doesn't get fined, or go to jail, or become a "convicted criminal." If a Criminal Indictment is issued, it normally comes from a Grand Jury, and it becomes the charging document for a criminal trial in Federal Court. A conviction could lead to fines, jail, loss of rights, etc. So, one is legislative/political ... one is judicial. One leads to the possible loss of office ... the other could lead to jail, etc.
As to a Congressional probe .... it is just a political fact finding exercise. Depending upon who / what is being investigated, what is found, the outcome could lead to impeachment proceedings, grand jury proceedings, or absolutely nothing at all.
