WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal judge has refused to delay sentencing for Roger Stone on his witness tampering and lying to Congress conviction. Her decision Tuesday came as President Donald Trump kept up his unrelenting defense of his longtime confidant and said he wouldn’t be quieted on social media even if it’s making things harder for his attorney general. That sets up a crossroads moment later this week in an extraordinary case marked by a mini-revolt inside the Justice Department and allegations of interference by Trump. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering in connection with the House investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 election. He’s scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.