COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Following release of a sweeping criminal justice reform policy platform, Bernie Sanders commended right-wing and Koch-connected groups for their work on the issue.

"This is an interesting point in what we are seeing in a very divisive political climate, you're seeing some right-wing groups like the Koch brothers getting involved in criminal justice for some of the right reasons," Sanders told the Washington Examiner on Sunday after speaking at a Brookland Baptist Church lunch . "And the right reason is that if you are concerned and you don't want to waste money, then you understand how wasteful the current criminal justice system is."

The Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate rolled out a large criminal justice reform platform on Sunday that also aims to end “profiteering in our criminal justice system,” mass incarceration, and excessive sentencing. Sanders calls to end civil asset forfeiture, the practice of law enforcement seizing property used in criminal activity and sometimes profiting from it, ban private prisons, end cash bail, and abolish the federal death penalty.

Americans for Prosperity, an activist group backed by billionaire Charles Koch, also advocates for criminal justice reform initiatives like ending civil asset forfeiture and initiatives to help people reenter society after incarceration. The group also supported the First Step Act, signed into law by President Trump, which increased the number of days that some prisoners can trim off their sentences for good behavior.

Though the Kochs often support Republicans, they reportedly plan to stay out of the 2020 presidential race, but still focus on down-ballot contests. David Koch, the brother of Charles Koch, retired from business and advocacy work last June for health reasons.

"What the Koch brothers understand is that it costs a lot more money to send somebody to jail than it is to send them to the University of South Carolina," Sanders said. "That you invest in young people to keep them out of jail. I think that's something that some of my conservative colleagues understand, and they're right on that issue. So we're going to save lives. We're going to save money by creating a rational and not dysfunctional criminal justice system."

Sanders did not praise Trump, however, for commuting the sentence of nonviolent drug offenders like Alice Marie Johnson at the prodding of Kim Kardashian.

"Donald Trump is a phony. Donald Trump is a fraud. And he will do anything that's opportunistic to try to get a few more votes. But I think his racism, his sexism, his religious bigotry is pretty clear to the American people," Sanders told reporters regarding Trump's commutations.