Apple News API Error malformed urls

I'm getting an error like the following from the Apple News API of:
  • code: INVALID_DOCUMENT

  • keyPath: ["components",15,0,"URL"]

  • value: "http://%20example.com/"

  • message: "URL" was "http://%20example.com/" should be valid URL with one of

["http","https","#","webcal","stocks","action"] scheme(s)

Now I realize the problem is the author of the HTML based content I'm trying to publish has messed up a URL in a hyperlink. How do I address this issue programatically? is there a way to just get the content published even if a malformed URL in the body HTML <a href="{url}">...</a> appears?

Apple News API Error malformed urls
 
 
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