PHILADELPHIA, United States (AFP) — A Pennsylvania judge on Monday refused to stop billionaire Elon Musk’s $1 million in donations to registered voters in US battleground states.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, sued Musk and his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC, last week, calling the $1 million prizes “an illegal lottery scheme.”

Krasner asked that the daily giveaways be shut down, but Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta refused to do so after a day-long hearing Monday with Musk’s lawyers and prosecutors.

Foglietta did not immediately provide a reason for his decision, though no more gifts were planned in Pennsylvania.

Musk did not attend Monday’s hearing.

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX pledged last month to give $1 million a day until Election Day. According to the America PAC website, 16 people, including four from Pennsylvania, have received the $1 million awards so far.

The Justice Department warned Musk and America PAC last month that the sweepstakes could violate federal law, which prohibits paying people to register to vote.

Musk, 53, who also owns X, formerly Twitter, has poured his millions, time and considerable influence into supporting Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump since endorsing him in July.

Musk, the world’s richest man, reportedly donated at least $118 million to his political action committee, an organization that raises funds for elections.

He also appeared on stage with Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania and hosted a series of town halls on his own in the eastern state, considered critical in Tuesday’s election.

Musk, who previously supported Barack Obama but has become increasingly conservative in recent years, adds to his 202 million followers on X daily with messages supporting Trump and disparaging his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris .