WASHINGTON — The CIA says it has denied a request by former Vice President Dick Cheney to declassify secret internal government memos that detail whether valuable intelligence was gained from the use of harsh interrogation techniques under the Bush administration.

CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano said Thursday that the request was turned down because the documents are the subject of pending litigation, which makes them not subject to declassification.

Gimigliano says that is the only reason the CIA didn't accept Cheney's request.

Cheney says the documents show that the tactics prevented terrorist attacks and saved lives, contrary to the Obama administration's criticism of the Bush-era policies. Cheney had made his request on March 31.