By JOHN KANELIS / johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com

Oh, brother. Donald Trump’s term as president is nearing an end and the discussion about pardons is leading us all into some mighty murky legal water … but that’s just this layman’s opinion.

Trump has issued a full presidential pardon to Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and to VP Mike Pence about his contacts with Russian government goons during the 2016 election.

Now comes discussion about whether Trump should pardon himself, his three oldest children and his son-in-law. For what? I’m not sure.

Here is where the murkiness settles in. The acceptance of a pardon is tantamount to admitting guilt. That’s how I see it; it’s also how some legal experts interpret it.

If Donald Trump pardons himself for an unspecified federal crime or crimes, would that disqualify him from seeking — oh, let’s see — the presidency in 2024? I mean, he’s talking openly about running again in four years. How could he do so if he in effect admits to committing a crime by pardoning himself?

Of course, none of this self-pardon idiocy exempts him from being prosecuted by a state court. That might be on the horizon, too, once Trump exits the White House on Jan. 20. President-elect Biden has said he has no interest in pursuing federal charges against his predecessor, but he cannot prevent a district attorney from going full-bore against the former president.

Oh, the humanity!

I just want to be done with this clown masquerading as president of the United States.