parse_broken_file.py

# Parse this busted file:
# 
# A,B,C,D,E, 
# A,B,C,D,E, 
# A,B,C,D,E, A,B,C,D,E,
# 
# A,B,C,D,E, 
# A,B,C,D,E, 

data = []
with open('busted.txt') as fin:
    for line in fin:
        parts = [w.strip() for w in line.split(',') if w.strip()]
        while parts:
            entry = parts[:5]
            parts = parts[5:]
            data.append(",".join(entry))

print(data)