Prosecutors hope to be able to put a $40,000 Rolex watch before the jury when former State Senator John Ford's trials begin.
Federal prosecutors allege that Ford received the watch from wealthy Memphis developer Rusty Hyneman.
According to prosecutors, Ford once said that he got the watch "free of charge" after using his influence to reduce huge pollution fines that had been levied against Hyneman by the state.
The prosecutors would likely use the watch to show that Ford had a practice of taking payoffs.
Ford's lawyer, Michael Scholl, maintains that the watch wasn't a payoff or a gift and will fight to keep it out of evidence.
Ford, 64, denies all charges.
Ford was charged in the FBI's Tennessee Waltz E-cycle bribery/sting Operation in May 2005.
Recently, Ford was indicted in connection with his ties to companies doing business with TennCare while serving in the State Senate on TennCare oversight committees.
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