WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump indicated Wednesday he is pondering a pardon for Paul Manafort, even as his former campaign chairman is accused of lying to the FBI and violating a plea agreement.

A pardon "was never discussed, but I wouldn’t take it off the table. Why would I take it off the table?” Trump told the New York Post.

The comment comes as Trump continues to criticize the Russia investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Prosecutors are examining whether Trump and his campaign worked with Russians who hacked Democratic emails and pushed fake news about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and whether the president has sought to obstruct that investigation.

Manafort, convicted earlier this year on financial fraud charges, is considered a key witness in that inquiry.

Trump repeatedly has denied collusion and obstruction, and accused Mueller's office of political motivations.

The president cited a possible pardon for Manafort hours after a tweet in which he accused Mueller's office of trying to coerce his former campaign chief Manafort and two other witnesses to testify against him.

"At least 3 major players are intimating that the Angry Mueller Gang of Dems is viciously telling witnesses to lie about facts & they will get relief," Trump tweeted.

"This is our Joseph McCarthy Era!" he claimed.

In addition to Manafort, Trump's three "major players" include longtime political adviser Roger Stone, and conservative writer Jerome Corsi, an ally of Stone who said he rejected a plea deal from Mueller.

In the New York Post interview, Trump said the three were "very brave" for, apparently, refusing to testify against him with the Mueller prosecutors.

Lawmakers and legal analysts said the president is trying to damage Mueller's reputation ahead of an expected report on Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor. There is also the possibility that Mueller will seek indictments of Stone, Corsi, and perhaps other Trump allies.

Opponents have also said that Trump may pardon Manafort and perhaps others in a bid to keep their quiet about the Russia case.

"Obstruction of justice right out in the open," tweeted Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the Justice Department under President Barack Obama.

At least one member of Congress said a Manafort pardon at this point would constitute an impeachable offense. "If Trump were to do this, then it would clearly be obstruction of justice and require his impeachment," tweeted Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pennsylvania.

After his conviction, Manafort struck a deal in September to cooperate with Mueller's team. The former campaign chairman met with prosecutors who have been looking into Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

On Monday, however, prosecutors submitted a finding that Manafort has lied during those sessions, and broken the plea agreement.

Mueller's team said it will soon provide "a detailed sentencing submission" on Manafort "that sets forth the nature of the defendant’s crimes and lies, including those after signing the plea agreement herein," the filing said.