Philadelphia
CNN
—

A Pennsylvania judge ruled Monday that Elon Musk's $1 million daily donation to voters can continue, a victory for the tech billionaire and Donald Trump ally.

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Angelo Foglietta rejected arguments from the city's district attorney, Larry Krasner, who argued that the sweepstakes was an illegal lottery that violated state law and should be stopped immediately.

The verdict came shortly after a daylong hearing in a packed courtroom in downtown Philadelphia. The hearing was heated at times, with Krasner's team calling Musk's political team “hysters” who were engaging in “fraud” and “crime” – and Musk's team accusing the prosecutor of pursuing a “horrific violation of constitutional rights.”

Krasner, a progressive Democrat, filed the lawsuit a week ago. Daily giveaways from Musk's pro-Trump super PAC continued as the matter spiraled through the courts – despite Krasner's lawsuit and a warning from the Justice Department that the cash prizes could also violate federal election laws.

Musk and his lawyers have called Krasner's lawsuit a “publicity stunt” and accused him of bringing the case because he disagreed with Musk's advocacy for Trump.

In court Monday, Musk's lawyers said the super PAC doesn't choose winners “at random.”

“There is no prize to be won,” said Musk attorney Chris Gober, and the winners “will not be chosen at random.”

Instead, Gober said the so-called “award” is actually compensation for serving as spokespersons for the super PAC — and recipients of the $1 million “will be selected based on their suitability to serve as spokespersons for the America PAC.” They “earn” the million dollars as payment for their work.

In announcing the giveaway, Musk said, “We will randomly award $1 million to people who sign the petition,” referring to his petition in support of the Constitution.

This story has been updated with additional details.