Announcing: Anna Giaritelli's Debut Memoir

Freiling Agency announces Anna Giaritelli’s powerful debut memoir, Under Assault: A Crime Reporter's True Story Overcoming Sexual Trauma and Exposing Injustice. The book, which will release on April 4, 2026, offers an intimate and courageous account of surviving sexual assault, confronting systemic failures in the criminal justice system, and ultimately finding a path forward.

After years of reporting on federal law enforcement, Giaritelli found herself on the other side of the story when she was sexually assaulted by a homeless man just blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Her decision to press charges and trust in the justice system she had covered as a journalist would lead to a devastating series of disappointments.

Despite her attacker being arrested, he was released from jail five times due to the courts' refusal to detain him until trial. In a viral op-ed that reached millions of readers, Giaritelli courageously exposed how D.C. police systematically erased her case—and countless other felonies—from official crime statistics, revealing a pattern of institutional failure that left victims without justice. Feeling broken by the system she had once believed in, Giaritelli left Washington in search of a new beginning, questioning whether life was worth living after fighting so hard.

Under Assault is ultimately a story of redemption and resilience. With raw honesty and journalistic precision, Giaritelli shares how she rebuilt her life from the ground up, offering hope to survivors and proving that beauty can emerge from ashes. The book serves as both a personal testimony and a searing indictment of a justice system that too often fails those it's meant to protect.

"This book is for every survivor who has been let down by the system, and for anyone who believes that justice is worth fighting for," says Giaritelli. "My story is proof that even in our darkest moments, there is a path forward."

About the Author: Anna Giaritelli is a crime reporter who has covered federal law enforcement and homeland security for major national publications. Her investigative work has exposed systemic issues within law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system. She is a passionate advocate for crime victims' rights and justice reform