A judge in Las Cruces Monday refused to lower bail for two Sunland Park officials accused of trying to force a mayoral candidate out of the race with a secretly recorded video of him getting a lap dance.

State District Judge Lisa Schultz upheld the $50,000 cash-only bail sought by prosecutors for 29-year-old mayoral candidate Daniel Salinas and 61-year-old City Manager Jaime Aguilera. Schultz said both men, who appeared in court in orange jumpsuits and chains, have bank accounts in Mexico and are huge flight risks.

The men were arrested Saturday on extortion and other charges. They are accused of trying to blackmail Mayoral candidate Gerardo Hernandez into dropping out of the March 6 election. Their attorney, Bradley Sims, declined comment after the hearing.

Hernandez said that an unidentified man had threatened to blackmail him with a video of Hernandez getting a lap dance from a woman if he didn't withdraw from the race.

District Attorney Amy Orlando said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.

KFOX14 Las Cruces Bureau reporter Samantha Manning is at the Dona Ana County judicial district courthouse and will bring you more on KFOX14 News.